‘Lost 400 girls to love jihad, Christians should ... ': BJP leader P C George stokes big controversy

Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader PC George has once again stirred controversy as he claimed that around 400 girls were lost to love jihad in Meenachil taluk of Kerala. The former Poonjar MLA even urged Christians to marry off their daughters before they turn 24 years of age, claiming that ‘love jihad' was on the rise in the state.

Addressing a meeting organised by the KCBC Temperance Commission against drugs in Pala on Sunday, PC George said that around 400 girls were lost to love jihad in the Meenachil taluk.

"In Meenachal taluk in Kottayam, only around 400 girls were trapped in love jihad. Only 41 of them returned. Why is it that the parents of Christian girls are waiting up to the age of 25 to marry off the girls? I would ask the parents to marry off the girls before they attain the age of 24. Girls can continue studies even after marriage," the BJP leader said.

“Why are the Christians not marrying off their daughters at 25 and 30? Why are they kept at home? One girl aged 25 went missing yesterday. She went at 9.30 pm last night. Her father should be blamed for keeping her till 25. Why didn’t he marry her off? This is an issue to be discussed,” George added.

The former MLA also urged the Christians to marry their own daughters, after which he faced severe backlash on social media. “What is the reason for Muslim girls not crossing limits? They are married off as soon as they turn 18. We don’t marry our daughters off even after they turn 28 or 29. We squeeze their salaries. Christians should marry their daughters off when they turn 24. If she wants to study, she can do that after marriage,” he asserted.

Taking umbrage to George’s remarks, the Youth Congress Mandalam Committee of Thodupuzha has filed a complaint against him. The workers of the Youth Congress alleged that PC George has been spreading false propaganda while not a single case has been registered in Kerala in the name of love jihad.

Notably, the Kerala BJP leader was recently arrested for delivering a hate speech against a minority community during a TV channel discussion. He was granted bail on February 28 after being placed in judicial remand.