Verbal duel intensifies between Congress and BJP over Pala Bishop’s ‘narcotic jihad’ comment

By PTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The verbal duel between the Congress and BJP over the controversial ‘love and narcotic jihad’ comment by Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, intensified on Sunday with the previous saying it doesn’t need the Sangh parivar to achieve foothold right here whereas the latter claimed that each CPM and Congress had been cornering the Bishop over the difficulty.

Senior Congress chief Okay Muraleedharan, whereas chatting with the media stated the occasion was not attacking the Bishop, however was solely mentioning a mistake because the prevalence of liquor and drug mafia within the southern state shouldn’t be foisted upon a sure spiritual group.

That is the place Congress has a distinction of opinion with the Bishop remarks, he stated and added that the occasion doesn’t need any communal disharmony within the state nor does it need the Sangh parivar to achieve a foothold right here.

Responding to Muraleedharan’s feedback, BJP state president Okay Surendran stated that the Bishop’s remarks had been towards terrorism, “but it hit Congress and CPM” who are actually attacking the Bishop from all sides, which is “unacceptable”.

Addressing reporters on the 84th birthday of SNDP chief Vellapally Natesan, Surendran alleged that the response of the 2 events indicated that the Congress and CPM had been encouraging spiritual terrorism “as part of their vote bank politics”.

He additional stated anybody talking the reality “was being branded as a member of the Sangh parivar”. The hyperlink between drug mafias and spiritual terrorists world over was clear as daylight, he stated and added that if Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan can not see that “then we need to fear such forces”.

He stated that BJP will present all help to the Bishop towards the assaults by Congress and CPM. Earlier, Muraleedharan stated such points shouldn’t occur and any variations between spiritual teams needs to be mentioned by sitting collectively.

He stated that he anticipated the Bishop himself to take steps to resolve the controversy. “We do not want any agitations in the state over the Bishop’s remarks,” he stated.

On Saturday, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), the apex physique of the Catholic hierarchy within the state, got here out in help of the Bishop and stated it was not towards any specific faith. The KCBC, in a press release, stated that even the United Nation studies have made it clear that cash earned from drug trafficking is getting used for terrorist actions.

The controversial ‘love and narcotic jihad’ remarks by Kallarangatt triggered ripples in Kerala’s political circles because the BJP accused the CPI(M) and the Congress of supporting jihadis, whereas the latter warned towards “Sangh Parivar agenda” to destroy Christian-Muslim concord within the state.

Amid mounting criticism, the Pala Diocese, below the the distinguished Syro-Malabar Church, on Saturday had come out with an evidence, saying the bishop didn’t intend to harm anybody and his remarks weren’t towards any specific group.

Urging all communities to view severely the actions of fringe parts indulging in radical and anti-social actions utilizing the names and symbols of faith, the diocese additionally shared the message of going ahead unitedly ending all deceptive propaganda.

As the bishop’s remarks triggered a political row, the CM on Friday stated those that maintain accountable positions ought to chorus from making statements inflicting division within the society.

While the Congress had stated the bishop crossed limits, the BJP supported him by urging the society to debate the assertion. Kallarangatt had stated just lately that Christian women had been falling prey to the alleged love and narcotic jihad in Kerala and wherever arms can’t be used, extremists had been utilizing such strategies to destroy the youth.