Christian Bishop in Kerala warns against Narcotics Jihad, Court orders FIR against him in return

A magistrate court has directed the Kuravilangad police in Kerala to register a case against Catholic Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt over his controversial ‘love and narcotic jihad’ remark based on a complaint.

The court in Pala gave the direction while considering a plea filed by a leader of All India Imams Council (AIIC). The petition seeking to register a case against the bishop was filed by Abdul Aziz Maulavi, the Kottayam district president of the council.

Love and Narcotic Jihad

As reported by TFI, Bishop Joseph, during a function in Kuravilangad in Kottayam district on September 9 had stated that Christian girls were falling prey to “love and narcotic jihad” in Kerala and wherever arms cannot be used, extremists were using such methods to destroy the state’s youth.

“They’ve realised that in a nation like India, taking up weapons & destroying others isn’t easy, they’re using other means. Their aim is to promote their religion & end non-Muslims. They use ‘love jihad’ & ‘narcotic jihad” ANI had quoted Joseph as saying.

He further added, “Jihadis, through love or other means, use women from other religions for misusing, for terrorist activities, or for economic gains. Those trying to prove that there’s no ‘love jihad’ are trying to feign ignorance. It’s not just a love marriage, it’s a war strategy.”

Cases of Love Jihad in Kerala

For the better part of the last two years, Kerala’s Syro-Malabar church has been raising the alarm about Christian girls were being targeted and killed in the name of love jihad.

Previously, Kerala Catholics Bishop Council (KCBC) Deputy General Secretary Varghese Vallikkat stood up against the phenomenon and said that “love jihad” should be addressed at a broader level and “secular political parties should at least accept” that it existed in Kerala.

Kerala Congress (Mani) chief Jose K Mani had said that love jihad is a major issue and needs to be studied and addressed. “There are some cases which have come up that need to be addressed, we should definitely address it. If something like this is taking place, we should address it,” Mani said.

In Kerala, almost all mainstream and influential leaders such as E Sreedharan have also raised the love Jihad issue.

Talking about the reality of the situation, the ‘Metro Man’ had remarked, “Love jihad, yes, I see what’s happened in Kerala. How Hindus are being tricked in a marriage and how they suffer…not only Hindus, Muslims, the Christian girls are being tricked in a marriage. Now that sort of a thing I certainly will oppose.”

KCBC had tried to bury the issue sensing it will benefit BJP

However, reported by TFI, sensing that the rising anti-Jihad sentiment would benefit BJP — Kerala Congress (Mani) and the KCBC had decided that it will be guarded in its sermons.

An official of the council was quoted as saying, “In future, our statements, speeches and responses will be guarded. We will be very cautious as we do not want to hurt the sentiments of other communities. The Church always stands for openness and strengthening the secular fabric of the society by enriching the communal harmony,”

The FIR might re-ignite the conversation

However, with a complaint filed against a bishop and that too by the Muslim faction, it looks almost certain that the dam of restraint and fake Muslim-Christian bonhomie will wilt.

‘Love Jihad’ is a major issue and turning a blind eye towards it is only going to haunt the current Pinarayi government in the not-so-distant future. The Islamists are on the prowl to quash the voices who are speaking against it and if the Church continues to think of the current quandary as a political game, it will hurt the Christians as well as other minority groups.