KOZHIKODE: Continuing the reconciliation steps to end the controversy stirred up by the “narcotic jihad” remarks made by Pala bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Congress leaders led by KPCC president K Sudhakaran and opposition leader V D Satheesan met various Muslim and Christian religious leaders in Kozhikode on Sunday.
Blaming the state government for not taking any steps to bring the two sides to a discussion table despite repeated requests by the opposition leader, Sudhakaran said KPCC would convene a joint meeting of religious leaders to find an amicable resolution to the issue.
He said the talks held by Congress with various Muslim and Christian religious leaders have been very positive as none of the leaders want the issue to exacerbate further or to damage the communal harmony in the state. Sudhakaran said that cooperative minister V M Vasavan had responded in an irresponsible manner after visiting Pala bishop.
“The minister had said there was no need to hold talks since there were no issues. The government did not display the composure or responsibility expected of it in addressing the problem," Sudhakaran added.
Satheesan said the state government was remaining a mute spectator when an unprecedented hate campaign was going on through social media aimed at wrecking the secular fabric in the state.
“No other state or any other government would allow such vicious campaigns which would spark off communal discord to continue. I had even forwarded a link of an online media which had offensive content to the cyber cell to take action. Some individuals are creating fake social media accounts both in the name of Christians and Muslims and engaging in hate campaign which would inflame people belonging to both communities," he added.
Satheesan reiterated that the state government has no stand on the matter and said that people connected with the government were visiting various persons and making statements that suited them.
"Is it proper during mediation to visit persons on both the sides and make statements that would make them happy," Satheesan asked.
He said that the stand by the state government has given rise to suspicion that it wants the conflict between the two communities to prolong a bit more.
Sudhakaran said the opposition leader had written to the CM urging the government to carry out its responsibility to initiate steps to convene talks to resolve the issue, but the CM did not respond positively. "The apathy shown by the chief minister in this regard is an injustice towards the society," he said.
Sudhakaran added that KPCC will observe this year's Gandhi Jayanthi day as social harmony day and the state wide inauguration of the programme would be held in Kozhikode on October 2.
The Congress leaders met various religious leaders including Samastha Kerala Jem Iyyathul Ulema president Syed Jiffri Muthukoya Thangal, Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, KNM leaders, T P Abdullakoya Madani and Hussain Madavoor and Kozhikode bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal. Opposition leader V D Satheesan had held talks with Thamarassery bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil on Saturday night.
