By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kochi: The media which spread wrong information about the matter should be ready to correct their mistakes as the DGP has again stated in the High Court that there was no organisation or movement in the name of ‘Love Jihad’ functioning in the state, , said T Arifali, Kerala Amir of Jamat e Islami. He added that the Press Council should come forward for the purpose. He was inaugurating the Islamic Centre in Kasargode in north Kerala on Thursday.
Mr Arifali recalled that Js KT Shankaran also had made it clear the previous day that the High Court had not reached any conclusion on any organisation called ‘Love Jihad’. The propaganda should be understood as the deliberate attempts of vested interest groups to destroy the communal environment of Kerala.
He opined that the national media and certain visual media brought up ‘love’ or romance. Even small children studying in second or third standard who watch (TV) serials know the tricks of love. Jihad is a beautiful word. Jihad is the struggle against the vices inside oneself and outside. Now attempts are on to demean the word Jihad by tying it together with love (romance) which Islam has not encouraged. This deliberate attempt should be understood. Who will manage the communal divisions and problems created by it when the DGP says it can’t be said if the ‘Love Jihad’ was there or not? The national media should re-think. The newspapers in Kerala and their organisations have the responsibility to conduct sincere investigation in the matter. Those concerned should be ready for a mission to correct mistakes so as not to affect adversely the reliability of the media. The Press Council of India should interfere and warn if necessary, he said.
Mr Arifali opined that leaders and community leaders should have taken care not to be a part of such communal and sectarian propaganda. The Nayar Service Society, the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam or the Christain Churches could not keep self-restraint when the matter related to ‘love jihad’ came up. This is indeed painful, he said. He also requested the community leaders not to indulge in deeds that added to communalisation. Nor should Muslims be helpful to those who try for communal gains. Communities should stay together and there should be good discussions, he added.