Muslim girl marries a Hindu in Uttar Pradesh; father alleges 'love-jihad'

When asked about the conversion of religion, the father of the girl said that the man had forcefully married her daughter and alleged that the police helped the boy in getting married. However, when ETV Bharat contacted city SP Ravindra Kumar, he denied any forceful conversion and said that matter is related to 'love-affairs'.

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh): A week after the Yogi Adityanath led-government passed Conversion Of Religion Ordinance, 2020, a case of forceful conversion of a Muslim girl into Hinduism registered in Bareily.

However, the city SP denied any religious angle and added the matter is related to 'love-affairs'.

According to the report, a 22-year-old Muslim girl was working in a local company had love affairs with a Hindu man.

When ETV Bharat asked the father of the girl, he said that his daughter informed that she had some work at the bank and left the house on December 1. When her mobile got switched off, her father contacted the company where she used to work.

"Then I got to know that she left her house to meet her boyfriend. I registered an FIR on December 5 and police had traced both of them on the very next day. Then I come to know that she got married to the Hindu boy", added the father of the girl.

When ETV asked about the FIR, he said that earlier police had registered an FIR of kidnapping but when she confessed about her willingness to marry him in front of the court, the latter refused to take any action and directed the police to ensure the safety of the couple.

When asked about the conversion of religion, the father of the girl said that the man had forcefully married her daughter and alleged that the police helped the boy in getting married.

However, when ETV Bharat contacted city SP Ravindra Kumar, he denied any forceful conversion and said that matter is related to 'love-affairs'.

Last month, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel had promulgated the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020. The new law mandates a jail term of the accused between one to five years, with Rs 15,000 penalty, if convicted for carrying out forceful conversions for marriage.

However, the ordinance has been challenged in the Supreme Court by the various NGOs.

The petitioners contended that the Parliament has no power to amend the fundamental rights, and if this ordinance is implemented, it will harm the public at a large and will create a chaotic situation in the society.

Citing the landmark Kesavananda Bharti case, the plea said, "the court held that the Parliament can amend the Constitution but the Parliament cannot change the basic structure of the Constitution".