Monday, July 12, 2010

KERALA ;-MUSLIM BOYCOTT

Thiruvananthapuram, July 12: Kerala's influential Catholic church has planned a silent boycott of Muslim-run shops in Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Thodupuzha areas following the chopping of Professor T D Joseph's palm by alleged Popular Front activists.

Sources in Muvattupuzha say there is a silent movement spearheaded by the local parish with the support and connivance of the higher-ups in the community to boycott certain shops belonging to Muslims.

Sources in Thodupuzha said even without the Church's backing, the Roman Catholics of the area have stopped calling cabbies driven by Muslims and are even boycotting shops belonging to the Muslim community.

A senior police officer in Muvattupuzha said that unless immediate action is taken, communal polarisation could happen, which would have wider ramifications across the state.

More than the attack, what hurt the community was the way the Popular Front has praised the barbaric action. While a section of the community wants a tit-for-tit reply, the majority seeks to boycott the Muslim community.

A person, who attended the Sunday mass at the Nirmala Church in Muvattupuzha , the place were Prof Joseph was attacked, told that the situation was grim and the priest had given a Sunday message, which included "everything but not attacking anyone openly".

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