Bishops urge Kerala government to act firmly against extremist groups

By Matters India Reporter

Kochi, May 23, 2022: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council on May 23 urged the government to deal firmly with extremist groups that spread hatred in the southern Indian state.

“There are several warnings about the presence of certain extremist organizations in Kerala society and the need to be vigilant about their activities. It is clear from some recent events that such concerns are well-founded,” says a press note from the council.

The bishops say Kerala was shocked to hear some slogans a child raised at the public function of an organization that is often accused of terrorist activities.

Hundreds repeated the slogans that called for killing those opposed to the organization.

“The government is reluctant to take appropriate action, even on the most serious of issues, and is working hard to imprison a person accused of speaking out against such acts of terrorism,” the bishops add.

The prelates also warn that such attitudes that please religious and communal organizations “are extremely detrimental to national security and the future of the state. The government must be prepared to treat everyone equally before the law, and to investigate and take action on more serious crimes with due importance.”

They also point out that the Kerala High Court had referred to some terrorist organizations. “It is a mystery that the government is not ready to intervene in such a situation,” the council adds.

Meanwhile on May 23, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the apex child rights body, asked the Kerala police to register a case against those responsible for allegedly letting the child raise provocative slogans during the political rally.

A short video shows the boy sitting on the shoulder of a person during the “Save the Republic” rally and shouting provocative slogans.

In a letter to the Kerala Police chief, (NCPCR) said it has received a complaint over the child shouting slogans in Malayalam “in the sense of provocatively killing.”

The Kerala Police have reportedly launched a probe after the video went viral on social media platforms.

The incident took place on May 21 during a “Jana Maha Sammelanam” (People’sgrand meeting) organized by the Popular Front of India (PFI), at Alappuzha.

“The video came to our notice yesterday only, and we are examining where this happened,” the police said May 23.

According to reports, more than 1,000 PFI supporters and members at the rally allegedly warned Hindus and Christians of dire consequences if they did not live peacefully in the country. They also threatened that they have not forgotten the Gujarat Riots of 2002 and cautioned the Hindu radical groups to not mistake Kerala for Gujarat.