Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued a stark warning in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, suggesting that while Kerala might appear peaceful on the surface, "unseen dangers" are gaining ground. Speaking at a conclave hosted by the Malayalam daily Kerala Kaumudi, Shah argued that these emerging threats could jeopardise the state's future stability if left unchecked.
The Home Minister took a direct swipe at several controversial groups, questioning their compatibility with India's social fabric. "Those who do not believe in coexistence— can they ensure unity?" Shah asked the audience. He pointedly asked the people of Kerala whether they felt organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI, or the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), could ever truly keep the state secure.
Shah didn't hold back on the politics of the PFI ban either, accusing both the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF of sitting on the fence. He claimed that neither front had the courage to explicitly support or oppose the crackdown. “The banning of the PFI and the imprisonment of its cadres have made the whole country a safer place,” Shah said, but he added that the “elimination” of such threats in Kerala was up to the state's own government.
"A developed Kerala is important, but a safe Kerala is essential," he remarked, linking the state’s economic aspirations to its internal security.
His comments echo recent sentiments from state BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who accused the Congress-aligned IUML and Jamaat-e-Islami of using religion to block the BJP’s progress. Chandrasekhar had previously alleged that these groups are more interested in "dangerous politics" than in creating jobs or development for the state's youth. With Shah now weighing in, it’s clear the BJP intends to make national security and "hidden threats" a central theme of their push into Kerala.
Also read: Concerns over Malayalam Language Bill baseless: Kerala CM
Follow us
