Pauri (Uttarakhand): Under pressure from Hindutva outfits, a BJP leader on Saturday said he has cancelled the marriage of his daughter to a Muslim man, which was scheduled to be held on May 28. Talking to reporters here, Yashpal Benam, the bride's father and Pauri municipal chairman, said he thought of getting his daughter married to a Muslim youth for her happiness.
But in view of the way social media users reacted to the proposed marriage, it has been postponed, he said. "Now I have to listen to the voice of the public as well," Benam said. The wedding to be held on May 28 in Pauri city has now been cancelled, he said. Hindutva outfits on Friday here at Jhanda Chawk burnt the effigy of BJP leader Benam in protest against his daughter marrying a Muslim.
The VHP, Bhairav Sena, and Bajrang Dal took part in the protest. "We strongly oppose such a marriage," the working president of district VHP Dipak Gaud had said. A photo of the wedding card of the BJP leader's daughter turned up on social media on Thursday.
Meanwhile, 'The Kerala Story', which chronicles the real life incidents as claimed by its director Sudipto Sen, got a go ahead for screening across West Bengal, which became the only state in the country to ban it. The Supreme Court stayed the West Bengal government's decision to ban the film in the state. Sen said that his film will be shown in the theatres of the state from Friday.Sen's Jalpaiguri home was also filled with joy after the Supreme Court order. On May 8, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee banned the screening of 'The Kerala Story' in the state citing "maintenance of peace" and to avoid incidents of "hatred and violence". Following it, Sen approached the apex court. (PTI)
