Kottayam: The controversial remarks made by BJP leader P.C. George have sparked heated debates in society regarding the contentious issue of ‘Love Jihad.’ Despite the backlash he receives from various quarters, George has received strong support from the Syro-Malabar Church.

The Public Affairs Commission of the Syro-Malabar Church issued a statement asserting that there is substance in P.C. George's comments on ‘Love Jihad’ and terrorism. This clarification was made in a press release from the commission, chaired by Archbishop Andrews Thazhath.

The press release further emphasized that the remarks made by P.C. George during an event organized by the KCBC Anti-Alcohol Committee in Pala—where he addressed issues related to liquor and drug abuse—are based on facts. In his speech, George advised Christians to marry off their daughters before they turn 24, citing the increasing incidents of ‘Love Jihad’ in Kerala.

"In Meenachil Taluk alone, we have lost 400 girls due to Love Jihad. Of these, we have managed to rescue 41. Just yesterday, a 25-year-old girl ran away from home around 9:30 PM. We are still trying to locate her. My question is, why should her father wait until she’s 25? Why not marry her off earlier? In my opinion, the father deserves a good scolding for this. This is a serious issue we need to address," George remarked.

"When a girl turns 22 or 23, shouldn't she be married off? Shouldn’t we show respect to these girls? When I was 25, I felt joy seeing girls, but at that age, a girl wouldn’t feel the same way about men, would she? That’s the reality. Ignoring this fact doesn’t help. By the time a girl turns 28 or 29, if she has a decent job, she may not be interested in marriage. That salary can be used by the family for other things. That’s the problem. Christians should marry off their daughters before they turn 24," he added.

Earlier, a case was filed against P.C. George for his hate-filled remarks made during a TV channel discussion.

The commission emphasized that George’s statements on Love Jihad, terrorism, and the spread of drugs hold some validity. The Syro-Malabar Public Affairs Commission has evaluated these matters and found them to be of concern. The statement also underscores that it is the duty of all citizens, irrespective of caste or religion, to isolate communal extremists and protect the dignity of democracy.