PALAKKAD: BJP state president K Surendran has said that Kerala is a state where the strong presence of love jihad is felt. “Terrorist organisations attract women in the state by tangling them in romantic relationships and later they marry them after converting them to Islam, then they are sent to Syria. Nobody is opposing love marriages but why couples after getting married are going to a hopeless country like Syria,” he asked.

“Explosives were seized from Kozhikode railway station yesterday also. Strong presence of Islamic terrorism is felt in the state nowadays. Love Jihad is a reality in the state it was even acknowledged by the Christian religious factions in the state. A strong UP-like anti-love Jihad law is an important poll promise of BJP and we have included that in our poll manifesto,” he said. Surendran also added that League is a party which have divided this country, therefore BJP is not ready for any talks with them.

Meanwhile, a panel led by Kummanam Rajasekharan will convene a meet in Kochi where the final nod for the draft manifesto will be given. The party has given emphasis to recommendations that could convert issues based on faith to electoral votes. Another assurance in BJP’s poll manifesto is legislation to protect Sabarimala, modelled after UDF’s poll promise.