The CPI(M) district committee in Kozhikode publicly rebuked former party legislator George M Thomas on Wednesday for his recent statement regarding “love jihad” and an interfaith marriage by a party worker, citing it as a breach of religious harmony in the region.
As per the CPI(M) constitution, ‘public censure’ is the third level of disciplinary action, following warning and censure, and preceding removal from a party post and dismissal from party membership. George M Thomas, a district secretariat member of the party in Kozhikode, faced this disciplinary measure at a district committee meeting.
The action against Thomas, the only Christian representative of the party in the district, occurred a day after the state leadership declared that his statement contradicted the party’s stance on the issue. Following the meeting, P Mohanan, the CPI(M)’s district secretary, informed the media that Thomas’s remarks on interfaith marriage contradicted the party’s secular position. Thomas recognized the error, issued an apology, and, given his prompt acknowledgment, the party opted for public censure without further disciplinary measures.
In the preceding week, a local DYFI leader, M S Shejin, who is Muslim, married Jyotsna Joseph, a Christian nurse, prompting concerns from her community. Thomas aligned with the community’s concerns, stating that the union “has shattered the communal harmony in the region, and the party may take action against Shejin.” Thomas further asserted that “love jihad is a reality, and even party documents have acknowledged it,” causing embarrassment to the CPI(M).
To mitigate the damage to the party’s reputation, the CPI(M) district leadership characterized Thomas’s comments as a ‘slip of the tongue.’ The party’s youth front, DYFI, also expressed support for Shejin.
