On Saturday (8 March 2025) in Pala in Kottayam district of Kerala, BJP leader PC George made a big statement in a conference. He told the Christian community to marry his daughters before the age of 24, otherwise he can be a victim of love jihad. He claimed that more than 400 Christian girls have fallen victim to love jihad only in Meenachil taluk. The conference was for awareness against intoxication, which was organized by Pala’s Bishop Joseph Kallerrangat and Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC).
In the Christian community of Kerala, concern about love jihad is increasing. This is not new, but this issue has been discussed for years. In this article, we will understand it in easy language as to why this debate has intensified now, what is its history, and what people are saying about it.
Actually, on the case of love jihad Speaking PC George said that out of 400 girls who disappeared in Meenachil, only 41 could be brought back. He referred to a recent incident that on March 8, a 25 -year -old girl left the house at 9:30 pm and was not yet known. George said that if girls are married at the age of 22-23, they can avoid this danger. Hearing his statement, there was a stir among the people present there, because this area is Christian -dominated and people are worried about this.
George also said that if the girl turns 28-29 years old and starts working, then she does not want to get married. Then the family depends on his earnings and this is where the problem begins. They believe that the easy way to avoid love jihad is to get married in time.
Why did PC George need to make this statement?
This statement of PC George did not suddenly come. Actually, the issue of love jihad has been going on in Kerala for years, especially the Christian community has been raising its voice before it. George said this because he feels that Christian girls are being targeted and there is no open talk in the society. They want people to understand this danger and take steps to save their daughters.
This is not a new concern. People of the Christian community have been saying for a long time that the girls of their community are being replaced by trapping them in the trap of love. The church has also raised this issue many times. For example, a few years ago, the church said that girls are being sent abroad in the name of love jihad, where they are misused.
PC George’s statement is an attempt to refresh this old concern. Their UnderThis problem is increasing in areas like Meenachil, where Christian population is high. They see it as a social threat and want people to be aware.
A letter was written to the Home Minister in 2019 regarding love jihad
The issue of love jihad in Kerala is no one today. Years ago, on 24 September 2019, Deputy Chairman of the National Minorities Commission, George Kurien wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In this, he said that Christian girls are becoming an easy victim of love jihad. Kurien claimed that from 2005 to 2012, 4000 Christian girls were replaced in the trap of love in 7 years. He wanted it to be investigated by NIA and strict laws were made.
Kurien mentioned some incidents in his letter. For example, a Christian girl was raped in Kerala’s Kozhikode and was forced to confess Islam by blackmailing her. The same happened in another incident and the girl was kidnapped. Kurien said that all this is happening in a planned manner and Christian girls are becoming a soft target of Islamic fundamentalists. Even after this letter, no major step was taken, but this fear increased in the church and the community.
Apart from this, the church has also been active on this issue. In 2020, Cyo Malabar Church gave a report, stating that Christian girls are being targeted in the name of Love Jihad. The church accused the Left Government of ignoring it. Pastor Father Varghese Vallicatt said in a video that Love Jihad is true, and a sex slave is being made by sending girls to countries like Syria-Afghanistan. The church also started screening against it, so that people would be aware.
BJP leader PC George has been raising this issue earlier. In the Meenachil taluk, a stronghold of Syrian Catholic Christians, he appeals to the people to save their daughters. According to him, the data of the disappearance of 400 girls is just a small part. They say that parents should do strictness and pay attention to the age of marriage. His statement is similar to the stance of the church, which considers love jihad as social evil.
Films like ‘The Kerala Story’ were made on this issue, which shows the story of love jihad and terrorism. The church is screening in schools and community, so that people understand this danger. In the year 2020, the KCBC told the government to investigate the missing girls, but the Left Government rejected it. Nevertheless, organizations like Church and BJP keep raising this issue, as they believe that it is a big threat to the Christian community.
Love jihad debate in Kerala is not new. Be it the latest statement of PC George or the old warnings of the church, this issue comes to the fore and again. The Christian community sees it by linking it with the safety of its girls, while the leftist government of Kerala rejects it outright. Whether it is the data of 400 girls or the claim of 4000, what is the truth, it is a matter of investigation. But it is so clear that this debate is not going to end yet.
