Kerala BJP Leader's 'Early Marriage' Advice To Prevent 'Love Jihad' Stirs Row

During the speech, he also requested Christian families to marry off their daughters before the age of 22, and warned that delay in their marriage could lead to disappearance.

File photo of Kerala BJP leader PC George.

Source : ANI

Kerala BJP leader PC George sparked another controversy by urging Christians to marry off their daughters earlier, claiming the rise of ‘love jihad' in the state. While speaking at an anti-drug programme in Pala area of the Kottayam district, George claimed that 400 Christian girls had fallen victim to “love jihad” in Meenachil taluk alone, but only 41 were successfully brought back.

George's statement followed after he was granted bail just a week ago in a hate speech case. During the speech, he also requested Christian families to marry off their daughters before the age of 22, and warned that delay in their marriage could lead to disappearance. “In Meenachil taluk alone, 400 girls were victims of love jihad. How many could be brought back? Just 41,” he said, India Today reported.

A Girl In Bharananganam Went Missing Yesterday: George

He also hit out at the families of Christians for delaying their daughters' marriage until they get older. “Even yesterday, a girl in Bharananganam went missing. She is 25. They are still searching for her. Shouldn’t we slap her father who didn’t marry her off early? Shouldn’t the parents show the decency to get the girls married off when they turn 18 and should keep them only till they are 22 at maximum?” he remarked.

George claimed that attraction between men and women is inevitable by the age of 25 and drew comparisons with Muslim families to illustrate his point.

“At 25, both men and women are attracted to each other. This is reality. This is human weakness. Muslim girls are not studying, no? Why? They are married off by the time they turn 18. What about us? We keep them unmarried till they are 28-30. We think we can get a share from their earnings. That’s the issue,” he said.

Critics have condemned his statements, accusing him of promoting regressive and patriarchal ideas under the pretext of safeguarding Christian girls. These remarks are expected to intensify George's existing legal troubles, including a case filed by the Erattupetta police for allegedly inciting religious hatred and violence during a television debate on January 6.