Girls Are Becoming Victims Of 'Love & Narcotic Jihad' Says Kerala Catholic Bishop; Muslim Committee Files Plea

The Committee has filed a petition before the Kottayam Police saying that there is no evidence for such claims and that the statement has communal overtures.

Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt (Image Source: IANS)

New Delhi: The Muslim Coordination Committee at Kottayam has demanded registering a non-bailable case against a Syro Malabar bishop who claimed that Catholic girls in Kerala are becoming victims of 'love and narcotic Jihad'.

The Committee has filed a petition before the Kottayam Police saying that there is no evidence for such claims and that the statement has communal overtures.
The action comes a day after the Syro Malabar Church Pala diocese bishop, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt during church festival said that narcotics was being used to lure Catholic girls.

According to the report the bishop said, "Wherever arms cannot be used, narcotics are being used and it's here Catholic girls become the victims. And to help this there is a group in Kerala that is functioning.

To understand this, one needs to just analyse how come ladies from other religions reached the IS camps. As part of 'love jihad', ladies are getting converted and there is increased usage of drugs by Catholic youths."

He added, "All this is being done to see that no non-Muslims are there, and to help in all this there is a group and all should be cautious. There is a plan going on to forcefully bring in Muslim thoughts and all Catholics should be aware of this and be watchful".

The Bishop's statement has also been criticized by Congress working president and senior legislator P.T. Thomas.

"Statements like these are dangerous and send wrong signals and the best thing one can do is none should do anything which will act as a fuel for creating unrest," said Thomas in a report by IANS.

Similarly, leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said, "Statements like these should be best avoided, especially by religious leaders as it only helps to fan trouble. The need of the hour is that religious leaders should be one who will help to face the troubles in the society and what has happened has happened and this should end here."