Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has reacted to the controversial remark ‘narcotic jihad’ of Pala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt here on Friday. Criticising the statement, the CM condemned the moves to create communal divide in the society.
"A respected priest and a person who has influence in the society must be careful not to create a communal divide through his statements. It is for the first time, I'm coming across the term ‘narcotic jihad’, added CM.
He said the issue with narcotics is that it was something that affects religion and society. "Not sure what he (Bishop) meant by making this statement. But while handling such matters, those holding responsible positions must ensure that they don't make any statements causing division among people on communal lines. We all should keep this in our minds," Pinarayi Vijayan said.
HoNarcotics is an anti-social element and it has nothing to do with any religion, added the CM.
Earlier on Thursday, while addressing devotees at a church in Pala, Bishop Kallarangatt alleged that young girls were largely falling prey to 'love and narcotic jihad' in Kerala and said that these tactics are being used to destroy non-Muslims.
The Muslim oufits have raised widespread protests against the remark of the Bishop while BJP came out supporting him.
(with inputs from agencies)