Kochi, Jan 16: Kicking up a debate, an influential Catholic Church in Kerala has said "Love Jihad is a reality" and alleged that scores of women from Christian community from the southern state were being lured into the trap of Islamic State and used in terror activities.
The synod of Syro-Malabar Church, an apex body of Catholic Bishops chaired by Cardinal George Alencherry, also accused the state police of not viewing the matter cautiously and taking timely action in 'Love Jihad' cases.
Denying the charges, the Popular Front of India (PFI) questioned the "timing" of the statement and urged the Church to withdraw it immediately "as it would only help create division amid growing unity among various sections of society against Hindutva Fascism."
The Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the Church statement and called for a united fight against 'Love Jihad' in Kerala Society.
An official of the Kerala State Women's Commission refused to comment, considering the sensitivity involved in the matter.
There was no immediate reaction from the police and government as well.
"There are circumstances in which Christian girls are killed in the name of Love Jihad in Kerala," the Synod has alleged in a statement issued through Syro-Malabar Media Commission here on Tuesday night, referring to the attacks against Christians across the world.
The Synod has termed as "shocking" the killing of Christians in Nigeria on Christmas day.
It is a matter of concern that Love Jihad is gaining grounds in Kerala putting in danger its social peace and communal harmony, the Synod said.
"It is a reality that 'Love Jihad' is happening in Kerala in a planned manner targeting Christian girls," it said.
The Synod, referring to a police record, said out of 21 people who were recruited into Islamic State terror outfit, half of them were converted from Christian faith and it should be an eye opener for the community.
Noting that unofficial accounts say many girls were being used in terror activities through Love Jihad, the Synod said it was a serious matter and such accounts state that Love Jihad is not only "in the imagination".
The Synod, however, said it was not assessing the 'Love Jihad' as an issue affecting the friendship between religions and urged the government to treat it as one related to law and order and not as a religious matter.
The Church demanded speedy action against the culprits involved in the 'Love Jihad.'
It also called for efforts to sensitise parents and children about the dangers of Love Jihad.
The PFI, often being accused of playing key roles in alleged 'Love Jihad' cases in Kerala, claimed that the state police, after conducting a thorough probe, had earlier submitted a report in the Kerala High Court, stating that there was no cases of 'Love Jihad' in the state.
"The Church is raising such a baseless allegation at a time when the minorities including Muslims and Christians and the people of Hindu community are in a joint fight against the Fascist government at the Centre.
Their untimely statement would only help divert the people's attention from the key issues that society is facing at present", PFI State President Naziruddin Elamaram told PTI.
Urging the Bishops to immediately withdraw the statement, he said, "I don't know what is their interest in making such a statement at this juncture."
Not a single Muslim community is holding 'Love Jihad' to increase the number of Muslims here, Elamaram claimed.
He, however, said there were instance of inter-religious marriages in Kerala in which Muslim girls marrying Hindu and Christian boys and Hindu and Christian girls selecting partners from the religions of their choice.
Such marriages cannot be termed as 'Love Jihad', he said.
Asked about the Bishops' allegations that Christian girls are targeted and recruited to Islamic State terror outift, the PFI leader said not a single Muslim organisation in India have recognised the Islamic State and such recruitments should not be seen as part of a 'jihad' as doubts prevail in minds on who created the IS.
Former president of the VHP, SJR Kumar claimed that 'Love Jihad' exists in Kerala society.
He alleged that there were centres in Kerala to "convert Hindu and Christian girls who are being lured into the trap of love by youths with criminal backgrounds".
"We have brought this issue into the attention of the Kerala society much earlier. But nobody listened to us.
Now, we are happy that the Bishops have realised the threat of Love Jihad. It is the time of a joint fight against this menace," Kumar told PTI.
He also alleged that Muslim men trap Hindu and Christian women into marriage and forcing them to convert to Islam.
"The converted Hindu and Christian girls are being used in drug trafficking and terrorism," Kumar said.
Comments
You people can check reports, SDPI people involved in many RSS workers' murder. They didnt get proper punishmnet
How BJP became communal..! BJP stands for patriotism. SDPI people working for conversion of people and making issues. That party should be banned fully.
Shame mr. rai. You only making the situation more complicated. By terming 'communal hub', you are injecting fear to common people.
BJP, SDPI both are communal they agreed. Should add more. BD, PFI etc
Dear Mr. Rai, with due respect, you and your party before flagging off the rally must answer the following questions to the general public!
1) you and your party won many times and even ruled undivided DK District but, why have you failed to controll the RSS and its hate campaign aginst a particular community???
2) During the last assemble election you have made public that once you got elected, you will send prabahkar bhat to jail! what action have you taken??
3) your own party worker late mr. Jaleel karopadi murdered by RSS Goons, what action and justice you have done to his father? who openly cried for justice and in anger he critisized you for failing to provide him justice!
4) under your constituency there were many muslim leaders and activists murder happend were were you that time?
5) the national tragedy of Babri masjid was demolished under congress rule and your national leadership maintained the soft hindutva, why have your party failed to protect it ..?
6) your national leadership had once said we will give justice to muslim community, and will rebuild babri masjid, being in a power for more than 10 years why your party couldnt provide the justice to the victims??? 7) your party have appointed the sri krishna commission! what action your party implimented against the hindutva brigade??
8) you and your party claims that, we are the protector of minority community! what protection you and your party provided for indian muslims?? since 70 years they have been looted, burnt alive, raped,tortured, made refugees, made scape-goat as terrors, etc etc ???
during all those time indian muslims dedicated their trust on all the so called secular partys, but all of them ditched to the community and maintained soft hindutva!
The anger, Disappointment, Frustration, and the Thawakkul on allah made to born SDPI on indian soil..!! that is the reality, that nobody cannot deny!!
Your Failure is SDPI's Stength, and SDPI's Success is indian oppressed community's success..!!
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