“Love jihad” may have proved to be a non-starter for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent Assembly by elections in Uttar Pradesh, but the issue refuses to die down. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has said that the administration should take a serious view of the incidents of “love jihad” as it hurts the dignity of women.
Describing the “love jihad” incidents as “shameful”, RSS “sarkaryavaha” Suresh “Bhaiyaji” Joshi told journalists on Monday that since the last 10 to 15 years, the “Hindu samaj” has been facing “love jihad”. “Without taking a communal view, there is no doubt that it hurts women’s dignity and injustice is meted out to “them, Mr. Joshi said.
Mr. Joshi was replying to a query on whether, after the recent turn around by the “victim” at the centre of the “love jihad” controversy in Meerut, it was a dead issue. He said it was an issue of concern for the “samaj”, adding that the RSS is part of the “samaj” (society).
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On the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya, Mr. Joshi said the RSS feels that the temple is already there, what is needed is that it should be made bigger. The RSS “sarkaryavaha” said in its election manifesto that (the BJP) has promised to remove obstacles and it is hoped that the (Central) Government will take it seriously. Some time should be given to the Government, he added.
Mr. Joshi said that the Sangh, in its three-day national council meeting which concluded here on Sunday, reviewed the work done till now and also discussed plans for the future.