'Love Jihad' racket: VHP, Christian groups find common cause

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 'Love Jihad', a religious conversion racket which lures gullible girls by feigning love, has brought rivals Vishwa Hindu
Parishad and Christian groups in Kerala together.

The two have decided to join hands to combat the ‘‘social evil’’, which they claim is hitting their respective communities hard.

‘‘Both Hindu and Christian girls are falling prey to the design. So we are cooperating with the VHP on tackling this. We will work together to whatever extent possible,’’ K S Samson, an office-bearer of Kochi-based Christian Association for Social Action (CASA), a voluntary Christian association, told TOI.

Samson said some days ago, CASA got to know about a Hindu family in a Christian parish where a school going girl was the victim. ‘‘We immediately referred it to the VHP,’’ he said, adding the saffron outfit has helped them in many cases.

The Parishad on its part has started a ‘Hindu Helpline’, which claims to have received as many as 1,500 calls in last three months.

‘‘Many of these callers wanted to congratulate us for our efforts and some were threats,’’ said Vineesh, who manages the helpline.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council has come out with a set of guidelines for Christian parents warning them to be more careful about their wards.

‘‘It’s shocking but it is happening. Many Christian families are getting affected,’’ said Father Johny Kochuparambil, secretary of Council’s Commission for Social Harmony and Vigilance.

‘‘We are careful as this is a sensitive issue and could even lead to a religious conflict. But now that the Kerla high court too has interfered in the matter, we have decided to take a stand,’’ said Kochuparambil.

The high court has asked the DGP to probe the charges and report to it.