Kerala CM warns against attempts to fuel Muslim hatred after ISIS scare
FollowKerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has warned against the attempts to demonise Muslim community after reports that a few Keralites have joined the Islamic state (ISIS).
"There is a deliberate attempt to spread hatred against Muslim community under the cover of reports that some persons missing from the state have joined Islamic State," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the Assembly on Monday.
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Specific interest groups are trying to make use of the situation to spread hatred. A particular religion cannot be suspected on the basis of such reports, the Chief Minister said while responding to the submission of Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. There is an attempt to keep Muslims community under suspicion. The government will not allow vested interests misusing the situation, he added.
Calling the reports on the suspected ISIS recruitment from Kerala as 'alarming,' Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government has an uncompromising stand towards terrorism. As many as 17 persons are missing from Kasargod while four are missing from Palakkad district. Reports suggest that some of these missing persons have joined the ISIS. The government will cooperate with national agencies in the investigation, he said.
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Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the news that all missing persons from the state have joined the ISIS cannot be taken in face value. However, the matter is of grave concern and terrorism, in any form, must be resisted, he said.
The lone BJP MLA O Rajagopal demanded a discussion on the matter keeping vote bank politics aside. He also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the missing persons.
