Various Muslim organisations on Wednesday urged Catholic Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt to withdraw his controversial "love and narcotic jehad" statement, saying no religious leaders should make such "immature" remarks.
Their meeting held here to discuss the issue also said that the Bishop of Pala, through the statement, was aiming at the Muslim community.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Indian Union Muslim League leader Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, who chaired the session, said no religious leader should make such immature statements or comments.
Such remarks would not help maintain communal harmony and strengthen the secular credentials of the state, Thangal said and urged the Government to strongly and effectively intervene in the issue.
He said the leaders of Muslim community did not make any immature response to the Bishop's statement.
Thirteen Muslim religious organisations attended the meeting.
Veteran IUML leader and Lok Sabha MP E T Muhammed Basheer said he supports the demand of various political parties to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
In the wake of the Bishop's controversial "love and narcotic jihad" remarks a few days ago, leaders of various religions met at Thiruvananthapuram on Monday last and called for steps to strengthen the secular fabric of Kerala society.