The Congress on Sunday stepped up its efforts to defuse social tension following controversial ‘alcoholic jihad’ remarks by Pala bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangat, while influential Sunni scholars’ forum Samastha Kerala Jamiatul Ulama declared that “there is no jihad”. For conversion to Islam.”
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K. Sudhakaran was interacting with various leaders of the two minority communities for the past few days. On Sunday, he met Samasta president Syed Jiffrey Muthukoya Thangal, Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen leaders TP Abdullakoya Madani and Hussain Madvoor, Sunni leaders Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musaliar and Kozhikode bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal.
On Saturday night, he met with Thamarassery Bishop Mar Remigios Inchananiyil. He had earlier also met leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Kottayam.
The Pala bishop’s sermon against radical Islamists using “narcotics” to influence Catholic and non-Muslim youth had sparked an uproar. Addressing the media on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Satheesan and Mr. Sudhakaran alleged that the state government’s response to the issue has been sluggish.
Mr Sudhakaran said Cooperative Minister VN Vasavan’s statement after meeting the bishop was irresponsible. Mr. Satisan called an urgent all-party meeting to discuss a solution to the social tension. He also alleged that soon after Bishop’s remarks, toxic messages and videos were being spread through fake social media accounts to disrupt peace and communal harmony in the society. Congress leaders said the party would soon convene a meeting of community leaders.
Meanwhile, quoting from the Quran, Mr. Muthukoya Thangal said that there is no need for someone to convert to Islam forcibly. “We do not have the concept of love jihad, of wooing girls to Islam through love. Some isolated person may be doing this. But it is unfair to blame the entire community for this…Muslims never encouraged terrorism or communalism here.” Pointing out that inter-religious marriages and relationships were taking place here, one cannot call it love jihad. Should be told.
At the same time, Mr. Abubakar Musaliar asked the Pala Bishop to withdraw the comments. Everything the bishop had said was wrong. “They should fix it… It has been confirmed that there is no such thing as love jihad,” he said.