The Congress in Kerala is on a fire fighting mode as the party’s criticism of Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, the Bishop of Pala, for his speech against Love Jehad, Narcotics Jehad has led to a consolidation of the Catholic Church behind the former.
Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, who had lambasted the Bishop by declaring that persons in responsible positions should not make statements that would communally divide the society, has retracted from his earlier stance and has called a truce. Satheesan wrote a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with an offer that he was ready to mediate with the spiritual leader of the Christians in Kerala.
The Bishop while addressing a religious congregation in an ancient Church in Kottayam district had warned the laity of Love Jihad and Narcotics Jihad which had claimed thousands of girls in the last two years in Kerala.
Vijayan said that he was hearing the term Narcotic Terrorism for the first time. But Catholic leaders in both the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF called on the Bishop and expressed solidarity with the latter. P J Joseph, chairman, Kerala Congress (J) and Jose K Mani, chairman, Kerala Congress (M), though do not see eye to eye on any issues were the first ones to call on the Bishop.
The BJP, struggling to get a foothold in the State and the leaders of which are under investigation by the State Police for financial impropriety, rushed to the Bishop’s Palace in Pala and declared their support to him on the issue.
But the activists of SDPI, an extremist outfit representing the Muslim community, undertook a procession to the Bishop’s Palace to condemn the latter’s statement. On Wednesday, the CPI(M) joined hands with the SDPI to pull down the local self government led by the UDF in Eerattupetta Municipality.
Interestingly, the BJP, which had condemned the Church in the past for its support to religious conversions, has openly extended support to the Bishop for his condemnation of the Love Jihad. Two more Bishops (who are heading Iringalakkuda and Changanassery dioceses) have declared support to their Pala counterpart.