Chidamabaram’s criticism of Pala Bishop embarrasses KPCC

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Remarks by senior Congress official P Chidambaram on Catholic Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, who recently made the controversial statement on love and narcotic jihad, put the Congress Party in Kerala in a dominant position on Sunday, the KPCC seeking to distance itself from the veteran’s statement.

The Catholic community, which is a major congressional support base in Kerala, has been unhappy with the party following initial criticism of Kallarangatt from its heads of state, including opposition leader VD Satheesan.

Sensing the danger, the party has recently tried to resolve issues with the church, and state leaders have taken the initiative to reach out to influential clergy.

Chidambaram said on Sunday that Pala Bishop’s “narcotic jihad” remark reveals “distorted thinking” and that the intention was to “provoke” mistrust and communal conflict between religions.

Chidambaram, a member of the Rajya Sabha, said that the “jihad of love” was a monster “invented” by the Hindu radical right to “terrorize” young men and women. A secular nation must eradicate such fanaticism, whether expressed in word or deed or through subtle means of discrimination, he said.

The Bishop of Pala said Christian girls fell prey to what he claimed to be “love and narcotic jihad” in Kerala and that wherever weapons cannot be used, extremists used such methods to destroy the young. Love jihad was a monster invented by the Hindu radical right to terrorize young men and women. Narcotic jihad is the new monster, and it pains me and millions of Indians that an ordained bishop, Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Pala, is its author. While love and narcotics are real, attaching the word jihad to love (a natural human emotion) and narcotics (analgesia and an addictive drug) reveals distorted thinking, ” Chidambaram said in a published article. on the website of a national daily. .

He said there was no evidence that Islam was “expansionist” in India and “the mass conversion to Islam is a lie”.

The intention is clear. It is to provoke mistrust and community conflict between the followers of a religion (Hinduism or Christianity) on the one hand and Islam on the other. Islam is the other and Muslims are the other fanatic people. A secular nation must eradicate such fanaticism, whether expressed in word or deed or through subtle means of discrimination, ” the former Union minister said.

In his article, Chidambaram praised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying “he read the riot act to the bishop” and also said he was “delighted that the opposition leader , MVD Satheesan supported the CM’s statement that the government will be ruthless against those who propagate such false theories. ” However, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) distanced itself from Chidambaram’s statements and stated that it would have been appropriate for the state unit to deal with such matters in the state.

We do not know on what basis Chidambaram made such remarks. We have not contacted him. This is something that has happened in Kerala and it is the state congress party that should comment on these issues. We have no responsibility to comment on something someone has said somewhere, ” KPCC chief K Sudhakaran told media here when asked about the Chidambaram article.

Chidambaram also attacked the BJP which had supported the bishop in his controversial remarks and said those who speak maliciously about the jihad of narcotics should reflect on the unprecedented transport of 3,000 kg of heroin which has been tempted to be ” imported ”via a port in Gujarat.

Those who speak mischievously about the jihad of narcotics should wonder about the unprecedented take of 3,000 kg of heroin (or three tons!) Seized by the authorities during an attempt to import through a port in Gujarat. I can say with authority that no one would have dared to import such a huge amount unless he / she (a few non-Muslims were apprehended) had official patronage at a fairly high level, ” Chidambaram said.

He called on the prime minister and the interior minister to disapprove of discussions on jihad, love or drugs. They are also expected to comment on the seizure of 3,000 kg of heroin. These are problems that have serious consequences for the internal security and social harmony of the country, ” added Chidambaram.

Vijayan had categorically rejected the bishop’s comments on September 21, saying the southern state was solid ground for secularism and that society would take a firm stand against those who try to upset it.

Satheesan had also criticized Pala Bishop’s statement and said the statement went overboard.

(This story was not edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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