Even as hundreds of Christian devotees undertook a rally in Kerala’s Perumbavoor demanding central probe into the charges of narcotics jihad made by various Catholic bishops, leaders of major political parties are making a volt face from their initial stance on the issue.
The ruling CPI(M) which had expressed the party’s unhappiness over Mar Joseph Kallarangat, the Bishop of Pala, who set the cat among the pigeons with his disclosure that jihadis were employing many modus operandi to woo girls from his community, has in a circular to party cadre asked them to campaign relentlessly against any kind of religious extremism and misuse of narcotics.
“It has come to the notice of the CPI(M) that some reckless elements were resorting to drug pushing in educational institutions with ulterior motives and we should warn the society about such dangerous moves,” said the circular by the CPI(M).
The circular is the draft of the speeches to be delivered by the area and local leaders of the party in public meetings to be held as a prelude to the tri-annual State conference of the CPI(M) scheduled for 2022 February.
The party had also deputed V Vasava,, minister for cooperation, to brief the Pala Bishop about the actions being implemented by the LDF Government against Lov Jihad and Narcotics Jihad. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had told reporters that the party was against blaming the Muslim community responsible for acts by some wayward youth.
The opposition Congress party has assumed the responsibility of calling on all Christian leaders in the State as part of its mission to restore the ruffled feathers because of the statement issued by V D Satheeshan.
The Leader of the Opposition had lambasted the Pala Bishop for his allegations but made a quick retract when other bishops extended their support to the latter.
K Sudhakaran, president of KPCC, personally called on the Bishop and smoothened the hurt sentiments. Sudhakaran reportedly told the Bishop that while his party understood the seriousness of the apprehension expressed by the Bishop, the communal amity in the State should not be allowed to go haywire.
M P Jaison, leader of the Catholic community who led the Monday rally, exhorted the Union Government to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the disclosures made by the Bishops of the community.