VHP opposes marriage using conversion bogy

Bhopal, January 5, 2017: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists opposed marriage of a couple on the ground that they had converted to Christianity but officials registered it saying the argument had no legal standing.

VHP activists in Bhopal opposed registering the marriage of Vishal Mitra, 28, and Ritu Dubey, 27, under the Special Marriage Act saying Mitra is Christian and Dubey also has “mentally converted to Christianity” as she had stopped wearing bindi and refused to pray to Hindu gods.

VHP activists to claimed that Mitra was Christian because he had played guitar at an event in a church in Bhopal in 2013.

Mitra works as a manager with a Bhopal-based building firm, Dubey is a probationary officer with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Indore. They in November applied for registration of their marriage under the Special Marriage Act.

On December 27, when they reached the Additional District Magistrate’s (ADM) office, Dubey’s mother reportedly objected and stopped them.

But Additional District Magistrate Ratnakar Jha registered the marriage on Jan. 3 ruling that “both are adults and have given their written consent… It does not matter what faith they or their parents follow or followed’’.

Security personnel were deployed outside the ADM’s office as VHP activists had gathered outside.

VHP leader and former Bajrang Dal convener Devendra Rawat said the girl’s mother gave an affidavit stating that Mitra was a Christian and a probe should be conducted to establish the truth.

“In a way it’s a victory for us because, despite being a Christian, the boy has agreed to be a Hindu, which is what we wanted,’’ said Rawat.

Mitra said he is a “Bengali Brahmin”. I did not think my marriage would be registered today. I don’t know why they accused me and my mother of following Christianity,’’ he said.

– indian express