Summary:
Kochi, Sep 26 (PTI) Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram"s remarks on Catholic Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, who recently made the controversial love and narcotic jihad statement, put the Congress party in Kerala in a spot on Sunday with the KPCC seeking to distance itself from the veteran"s statement.
The catholic community, which is a major support base of the Congress in Kerala was upset with the party following the initial criticism against Kallarangatt by its state leaders including Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan.
Sensing danger, the party has been recently trying to resolve issues with the church and the state leaders have taken initiative to reach out to the influential clergy.
Chidambaram on Sunday said the "narcotic jihad" remark made by Pala Bishop reveals the "warped thinking" and the intention was to "provoke" distrust and communal conflict between religions.
Chidambaram, a Rajya Sabha member, said "love jihad" was a monster "invented" by the Hindu radical right to "terrorise" young men and women.
A secular nation must stamp out such fanaticism whether it is expressed in words or deeds or through subtle means of discrimination, he said.