Mysuru: A Muslim boy and a Hindu girl, who have been courting each other for the past 12 years, married on April 18 in the presence of family members, friends and lots of policemen.
Shakeel Ahmed and Ashitha Babu got married at a convention centre in Karnataka’s Mysuru while rightwing Hindu activists protested what they called was “love jihad.”
The term refers to an alleged activity of Muslim men, who feign love to target girls from other religions for conversion to Islam.
Outside the bride’s home in Mandya, Hindu activists alleged that Shakeel was forcing Ashitha to convert to Islam by marrying her.
“This is love jihad. If it is love we have no objection, but this seems to be forced,” said B Suresh, secretary of the Karnataka unit of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (world Hindu council).
The two families have refused to let the protests interfere with their celebrations. “We are all equal in India… that is the message to protesters. They should understand that,” Dr Narendra Babu, Ashitha’s father, told ndtv.com as they drove to the wedding venue.
Shakeel’s father Mukhtar Ahmed, a jaggery trader, said, “This is a happy occasion. What does it matter if 0.01 percent protest, if everybody else is celebrating.”
The couple, both 28, have known each other for years. Their families were neighbors in Mandya before the Ahmeds moved out.
Ashitha and Shakeel were also classmates in school and college, finished their Masters in Business Administration together. They have been in love for the past 12 years, their families say.
The protests began several days ago as the two families began the wedding preparations. The police had arrested two protestors in Mandya earlier mid April..
The couple has found strong support from social activists such as writer K S Bhagavan, who attended the wedding. Bhagavan has already received threats because of his rationalist writings.