Catholic Bishop's 'love jihad' and 'narco jihad' claims trigger political storm in Kerala

Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, who heads the diocese with the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in the state, also claimed that those who believe that there is no 'love jihad' in Kerala are blind to reality.

The controversial statements made by a Catholic Bishop in Kerala have now taken a political twist.

Catholic Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt had on Thursday claimed that young men and women members of the community and other non-Muslims in the state were being targetted through ‘love jihad’ and ‘narcotic jihad’.

Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, who heads the diocese with the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in the state, also claimed that those who believe that there is no 'love jihad' in Kerala are blind to reality.

Stating that those who do not accept the presence of 'love jihad', including politicians or social commentators or the media, may have their own vested interests, Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt said that the Christian community was losing its youngsters not just through love marriages but also destroying their lives.

The Congress party on Friday slammed the priest, stating that the remarks could endanger communal harmony.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan shared a post on Facebook where he appealed to community leaders to not make any statement that would destroy peace and mutual trust in the state.

The BJP, however, supported the Bishop with state president K Surendran suggesting that the priest had spoken from his experience.

He said that the issue raised by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt was serious and should be discussed without prejudice.

The state BJP chief claimed that the 'narcotic jihad' was a reality in the state.

What the Bishop has said is nothing new and he has not accused any community in his remarks, Surendran said. 

Meanwhile, Muslim organisations have expressed strong resentment against Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt's statements.