THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT 18: CPI(M) state committee member and Kannur leader P Jayarajan’s recent comments regarding the recruitment of youth to the Islamic State (IS) in Kerala have ignited a political debate in the state. Jayarajan reportedly remarked that political Islam is luring young people into terrorism, prompting widespread reactions from political leaders and organizations.
Reacting to Jayarajan’s statement, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stressed the importance of taking the remarks seriously, especially since they come from a senior leader of the ruling party. “If a senior leader from the ruling party is saying this, we should look into it. It’s important to understand the basis of his statement and address any concerns that may arise,” the Governor said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V D Satheesan, described Jayarajan’s statement as “extremely serious.” He called on the state government to clarify whether Kerala has indeed become a recruitment hub for IS, as claimed by the CPI(M) leader. Satheesan questioned whether the government or the Home Department has any intelligence reports on the matter, stating, “This serious allegation is against the government and the Home Department.”
Satheesan also expressed concern over Jayarajan’s claim that recruitment activities are allegedly taking place in Kannur, which is the home district of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He urged the government to take action if Jayarajan’s allegations are baseless and demanded clarity from the Chief Minister on whether the claims are true or false.
The Catholic Church-backed newspaper, Deepika, welcomed Jayarajan’s statement, emphasizing that it is encouraging to see a senior CPI(M) leader addressing the issue of radicalization. The publication highlighted the significance of his remarks, given the party’s previous stance on the issue of political Islam.
Jayarajan has hinted that more details regarding the matter will be revealed in his upcoming book, adding further anticipation to the ongoing debate. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan has yet to confirm whether Jayarajan’s views align with the party’s official position on the issue. (PTI)
