Thiruvananthapuram : In a move drawing sharp criticism from various corners, BJP’s Kerala vice-president Shone George has stirred controversy by alleging that “radical Islamists” linked to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind have “infiltrated” ongoing Church-led protests in the state, reported the Hindustan Times.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, George claimed that the protests—organized across districts such as Kannur, Thalassery, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Mananthavady, Angamaly, and Ernakulam—were being influenced by elements loyal to Muslim organizations. He specifically targeted SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami, alleging they were using the arrest of Christian nuns in Chhattisgarh to drive a wedge between the Christian community and the BJP.
However, the BJP leader’s remarks were seen by many as an attempt to communalize a legitimate movement and divert attention from the growing discontent over the continued detention of the nuns, who were recently granted bail in a forced conversion case widely regarded as fabricated and politically motivated.
George further accused the Congress and the CPI(M) of supporting SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami to maintain their political standing in Kerala, alleging they wanted the nuns to remain in jail to deny the BJP any sympathy among Christian voters. He went so far as to reference 18th-century history, bringing in the name of Tipu Sultan, in a bid to provoke historical grievances.
Observers see the BJP’s accusations as part of a larger strategy to malign Muslim organizations and sow discord among Kerala’s religious communities, particularly between Muslims and Christians, who have historically coexisted peacefully in the state.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and SDPI, meanwhile, have consistently denied any involvement in violence or coercion and have called for unity among all marginalized communities, including Christians, Muslims, and Dalits, in resisting injustice and communal polarization. Muslim organizations have also strongly condemned the arrest of the nuns and expressed solidarity with the Christian community, calling for immediate release and justice.
Shone George’s insistence on relying on “intelligence sources” rather than furnishing concrete evidence has further raised questions about the credibility of the BJP’s claims.
Political analysts argue that such statements reflect the growing discomfort within the BJP about the increasing cooperation and solidarity among Kerala’s minorities, particularly in the face of perceived state oppression and misuse of central agencies.
Meanwhile, BJP’s S. Suresh, also a state vice-president, attempted to defend party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has faced mounting criticism for his silence on the matter.
As Kerala’s diverse communities rally around causes of justice and human rights, the BJP’s divisive rhetoric appears increasingly out of touch with the inclusive ethos of the state.
