Kerala woke up to a tumultuous Sunday morning as a heavy posse of policemen drove down from Thiruvananthapuram to Eerattupetta in Kottayam district and arrested P C George, seven-term MLA, from his residence in connection with a complaint filed by the youth wing of the Muslim League.
George who was slapped with charges under Sections 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code by the police was granted conditional bail by the Judicial Magistrate Court, Thiruvananthapuram within hours of his arrest. By that time, the BJP and various Sangh Parivar outfits had staged demonstrations across the State condemning the arrest.
Leaders of Muslim League and some Islamic outfits had complained to the State Police Chief that George while addressing a public meeting at the capital city on April 29 had demanded that India should be declared as a Hindu Republic and he had blamed the Muslim youths for the organized Love Jihad. They also accused that George’s speech was likely to create hatred between various communities in the State.
Speaking to reporters after he was released on bail, George said that he stood by what he disclosed at the April 29 public meeting. “I did not blame the Muslim community in general for terrorism activities. But it is a universal truth that there are many Islamic outfits which were on a mission to annihilate non-believers. Who can deny the practice of Love Jihad ?” asked the septuagenarian leader.
George also said that his arrest was a Ramadan Gift to the Islamic terrorists by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Activists of DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M) held demonstrations across Kerala expressing solidarity with the chief minister and the police for arresting George
The Armed Reserve Police Camp at Thiruvananthapuram witnessed tense moments as union minister of State for external affairs V Muraleedharan was denied permission by the police to meet George. Valsan Thillankeri, the president of Hindu Aikyavedi, while addressing a media meet later in the day declared that the Hindus in the State would stand with George in this hour of crisis.