KERALA BISHOP’S COMMENTS ON ‘NARCOTICS JIHAD’ FAN CONTROVERSY

MUSLIM GROUPS DEMANDED THE BISHOP PRESENT EVIDENCE TO SUBSTANTIATE CLAIMS OR RETRACT HIS STATEMENT

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A Catholic bishop in Kerala on Thursday stoked controversy with his remarks that after “love jihad”, Catholic girls and youngsters were reportedly becoming victims of a “well-orchestrated narcotic jihad”.

“Love jihad” is a term often used by right-wing groups to describe unions between Muslim men and women belonging to other religion.

Muslim outfits protested the priest’s statement, alleging that it was meant to create a communal divide in the state.

Addressing a church ceremony in Kuravilangad, Kottayam, Mar Joseph Kallaranghatt, Bishop of Pala Diocese of the Syro-malabar church, said, “Wherever arms are not used, narcotic drugs are being used and Catholic girls turn victims. Some groups are functioning in the state to help them. To understand this, one needs to analyse how women from other religions landed in the Islamic State camps.” He was referring to the visit of 21 people, including five converts to Islam, from north Kerala to Afghanistan in 2016 to reportedly join the Islamic State.

The Catholic priest also said that those who try to establish that ‘love and narcotic jihad’ does not exist in the state, were just shutting their eyes to reality.

Muslim organisations such as the Samasta Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) and Kerala Naduvathul Mujahideen demanded the Bishop present evidence to substantiate claims.

“He has to produce evidence to prove such serious allegations. This is a move intended to isolate Muslims and create a phobia against them. We hope he will withdraw his comment,” SKSSF secretary P Sathar said in a statement.