Muslim body files case against Catholic bishop

By Matters India Reporter

Kottayam, Nov 2, 2021: A Muslim body in Kerala has filed a case against a Catholic bishop for allegedly promoting disharmony, enmity and hatred between two religious communities in the southern Indian state.

The police in Kuravilangad town in Kottayam district November 1 registered the case against Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai for his controversial remarks on “narcotic jihad” almost two months ago.

The Police said the case was registered following a complaint from the All India Imams Council.

“The case follows a direction in this regard by the Pala [Palai] magistrate court,” said Shilpa Dyavaiah, district police chief in Kottayam. Palai is a major town in Kottayam district.

Abdul Asees Moulavi, district president of the Muslim council, alleged that the police had initially refused to register a case against the bishop, even after making formal complaints at the Kuravilangad station and to the district police chief.

So, he approached the Palai magistrate court that in turn ordered the police to register a First Information Report against the prelate and probe the alleged charges against him.

The bishop faces charges such as promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race among others and prejudicial references under relevant sections of India Penal Code, Dyavaiah told media.

The controversy started September 8, when Bishop Kallarangatt urged his people to become vigilant against the danger of “narcotic jihad and love jihad.” The prelate was addressing devotees attending the Nativity feast (birthday of Mother Mary) at St Mary’s Church in Kuravilangad.

Muslim terrorists, reportedly said, wanted to “promote their religion” and to see “the end of non-Muslims” for which they used “loved jihad” and “narcotic jihad.”

“They have realized that in a nation like India, taking up weapons and destroying others isn’t easy and thus, they’re using other means,” Bishop Kallarangatt further said urging Catholics to be wary of people who might destroy their lives and their families.

The bishop also asked Catholic families to protect their girls from love jihad, a term used to accuse young Muslim men of feigning love to marry and convert women from other religions.

Narcotic jihad, the bishop said, reportedly targets youth of other religions aiming to destroy their lives with drugs.

Portion of the homely was circulated in the social media in a way that portrayed the bishop as if he was targeting the Muslim community for using the term “jihad” despite the fact that he was addressing serious issue that required the attention of everyone.

It, however, created a ripple in the Kerala society and both Muslims and Christians sticking to their respective position.

Muslims insisted that the prelate tender a public apology, but the prelate maintained that he never targeted the Muslims as was being made out, but was speaking to his people in the homely about his concerns.

As Bishop Kallarangatt continued to face flak from Muslim groups and others opposed him, he was backed by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council and a large section of the Christian population in the state irrespective of their denomination differences.

Christians cutting across denominations even staged protest in front of the Kerala state legislative assembly in support of the prelate and demanded action against those involved in narcotic and love jihads.

Kerala’s Communist Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, however, disagreed with the Christians and slammed the bishop’s remarks and released the religion wise list of people arrested in connection with drug cases.

Vijayan, at the same time refused to charge the prelate for his alleged defamatory statements.

Some Catholic lay groups such as Almaya Forum of Syro-Malabar Church has openly supported the prelate and condemned the police action.

They also assured their support to the prelate in his fight to protect the interest of the Christians especially their girls.