Rekha Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), who met Akhila, aka Hadiya, at her residence at TV Puram, near Vaikom, on Monday said that the woman was happy and secure at her home.
Speaking to mediapersons after meeting Ms. Hadiya, Ms. Sharma said the NCW was concerned about her well-being after seeing media reports. “She is in good health, she has not been beaten up (as reported in a section of the media); she is eating food; she was smiling and happy,” Ms. Sharma said and showed the images of the woman she had taken in her mobile phone to the mediapersons. Her security is not under threat. Three police women are taking care of her security, Ms. Sharma said. She said she could not divulge the details of her talks with Ms. Hadiya since the matter was sub judice. “She said ‘now’ she is okay,” Ms Sharma said. According to her, the woman is waiting to appear before court. “I am waiting for (November) 27,” she said, according the NCW chairperson.
Asked about the issue of Shefin Jehan (the person to whom Ms. Hadiya was married to and was later annulled by the Kerala High Court), Ms.Sharma said she “did not approach the issue.” The woman wanted to go out and “I said I will take her out when you people (mediapersons) are not around,” she said.
Conversions
Ms. Sharma said she would also meet some of the other women who were also in a similar situation. “I am not willing to use the term ‘love jihad’, but forced conversion,” she said in response to a question.
The NCW chairperson, who arrived at Ms. Hadiya’s residence by 12.45 noon, first went to her relative’s house and met her parents.
