It is a complete irony that the SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India), the political face of the Popular Front of India, an extremist Islamic organization, has been eager to speak out on behalf of Christians for the past few days. It is apparent that the SDPI leadership, which has frequently played a crucial role in inciting a riotous atmosphere in Kerala, is only targeting covert political maneuvering. The role of SDPI activists in Kerala’s recent outbreak of violence and gruesome killings has been amply proved. Kerala has not yet forgotten that it was the Popular Front activists who executed the primitive punishment by amputating the hand of Prof. T.J Joseph of Newman College, Thodupuzha on the charge of insulting the Prophet.
In 2012, the then Kerala Police Intelligence chief told the Kerala High Court that the Popular Front was another facet of the banned militant group SIMI (Students’ Islamic Movement of India – SIMI). SIMI, banned in 2001, was an organization that fully embraced the aims of Jamaat – e – Islami, which promotes Islamic extremism in Kerala and operates at various levels in connection with the caliphate. As a result the Popular Front, which was formed in 2006, has also been spreading religious fundamentalism from its inception raising fears and anxieties in Kerala society because of which there’s demand for a ban on these organizations from various quarters. The Popular Front and the SDPI are organizations that are being monitored in many places due to the extremist nature of their activities.
The adoption of the secular name i.e Social Democratic Party (SDPI) has led many to misunderstand that it is an ordinary political party. SDPI leaders are also making deliberate attempts to create such a misunderstanding. It is this misunderstanding that has led Christian monks and priests in Karnataka, along with the SDPI, to protest against the Prohibition of Conversion Act in recent days. All communities have a responsibility to help and support each other in crises faced by all sections irrespective of caste or creed. However, the Christian community and the general public have a responsibility to identify and distance themselves from the real aims of extremist religious and political organizations such as the Popular Front and the SDPI.
Planned atrocities on the part of Hindutva organizations and Hindutva activists are on the rise, with governments and political leaders competing to create more crises by enacting new legislation and imposing unnecessary laws on Christian communities, institutions and churches. Collective reactions and protests are needed at this stage. But those who falsely come to support us with exploits and vested interests must be kept away. Everyone must be careful to be prudent in their actions, decisions, and attitudes as part of the protest and response.
Christians are facing various forms of atrocities on the part of fundamentalists and extremists in Kerala and in various Indian states outside Kerala do not expect the help of any extremist organization for temporary gain.
Fr. Michael Pulickal CMI
Secretary, KCBC Commission for Social Harmony and Vigilance