Thiruvananthapuram: Society must guard against faith and spirituality giving way to communalism and extremism, says the chief minister of Kerala.

Pinarayi Vijayan said this on October 3 at a function organized in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram to accord a reception to Salesian Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was released recently from Islamic terrorist captivity in Yemen.

Vijayan wants society to examine and rectify factors that lead extremists to take up violence.

The Marist leader says society has much to learn from the 59-year-old Catholic priest, who remained steadfast in his belief, even while staring death in the face.

Vijayan thanked the Sultanate of Oman and the Vatican for playing “instrumental roles” in ensuring the safe return of Father Uzhunnalil.

Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the priest will be known as one who selflessly pledged his life to the service of the needy in a country that stared at an uncertain future and had no government or diplomatic missions.

P V Suhaib Moulavi, the Imam of the Palayam Masjid, said that terrorism has no religion or faith. Such activities were only intended to cater to the imperialist and political interests of a very few, he added.

Replying for the felicitations, Father Uzhunnalil said that religious harmony remained the greatest asset of India. “Even as I was known to be a Catholic priest, several people, cutting across religious divides, regarded me an Indian brother and prayed for my safety,” he said.

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Church and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, delivered the introductory address.

Bishop Joseph Mar Barnabas Episcopa of Thiruvananthapuram Mar Thoma diocese, Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust general secretary Swami Sandrananda, Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop R. Christudas and Provincial of the Salesian Province of Bengaluru Joyce Thonikuzhiyil also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier Father Uzhunnalil called on Kerala Governor P Sathasivam at the Raj Bhavan on the same day t an expressed his gratitude for the latter’s intervention in ensuring his release.

Father Uzhunnalil’s relatives had, along with Chandy, met the Governor on May 31 and submitted an appeal seeking his intervention for the release of the priest. The governor had forwarded the petition to federal Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

(Source: The Hindu)