Kerala promoting love jihad': BJP

New Delhi: Accusing the Congress-led Kerala government of “sacrificing” national security “at the altar of pure vote bank politics,” the BJP on Wednesday claimed that terror activities and radicalisation are going on in the state in the name of “love jihad.” Making its stand clear, the BJP said if anyone wants to voluntarily follow any faith, it is permitted by the Constitution but “any inducement, intimidation and allurement by money is patently illegally.”

Reacting to a news report on funding for terror, radicalisation and conversion to create an Islamic State, senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded that the Kerala government should initiate a serious probe into the facts unearthed by the news report, instead of calling such (love jihad) cases as “humbug.” He said terror funds are being used to “psychologically kidnap” young girls in the state, who are being converted through inducement and radicalised. The news report claimed that several groups in Kerala claiming to be funded by foreign sources to radicalise people and create an Islamic State.

Mr Prasad said that terrorism and security has acquired a menacing dimension in the state of Kerala and serious issues of national security, radicalisation and terrorism are being “sacrificed at the altar of pure vote bank politics.”

Taking a swipe at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who the BJP leader said “has been reacting on everything these days and his pet dog reacts on what the Congress leaders could not,” Mr Prasad said why is he failed to react on such serious issue so far.

Citing the ongoing Hadiya case in the Supreme Court, Mr Prasad said the NIA is probing the case after the apex court asked it and the Kerala government intervened saying love jihad cases were “humbug” and had asked the court to withdraw the case.