It’s not often that inter-religious marriages find the support of families in India, but in the case of a Hindu girl and a Muslim boy in Mandya town, love triumphed with the full support of both the families, despite open protests by members of fringe right-wing groups.
N. Ashitha, daughter of H.V. Narendra Babu, a paediatrician, and Shakeel Ahamed, son of businessman Mukther Ahamed, had been in love for the past several years, and their
families agreed to accept their decision to marry and fixed April 17 as the wedding day.
Unfortunately, local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists, who are known for their virulent opposition to such marriages, terming them a case of ‘love jihad’, got wind of the marriage and launched a campaign against the families on Tuesday.
They even protested outside Mr. Babu’s residence.
While the protests have made the families nervous, they are determined to see the marriage through.
“Ashitha and Shakeel are old friends and they have our blessings. We have even printed invitation cards,” Mr. Babu and his wife Umadevi told presspersons.
Mr. Babu expressed severe displeasure over the protests at this stage.
He said Shakeel’s family was known to him for years.
Communal harmony and liberal thinking is the need of the hour, he said.
While Shakeel’s family chose not to speak to the media, one of his uncles told presspersons that the couple would settle in the United Kingdom after marriage.
If they decide to stay on or come back to India, they would help him in improving the jaggery and rice business, and confirmed that the couple had the family’s support.
Meanwhile, police said the activists did not obtain permission to stage the protest.
If the family files a complaint, the police will initiate action, a police officer said.
