Row over Muslim girls' marriage to Hindu grooms

Jaipur, July 1 (UNI) A controversy seems to be brewing following the marriage of two orphan Muslim girls to Hindus.

Around 12 girls of Women Hostel in Pratap Nagar, Sanganer were married in a mass marriage ceremony yesterday, the expenses of which were borne by the state government.

Out of the 12, two Muslim girls Shahrun and Tasmeena were married to Hindu grooms Krishna Avtar and Jagdish Bairwa as per their wish.

But the Muslim community 'seems' to be enraged over the inter-religion marriages. Around 200 people of various Muslim organisations gathered outside the venue yesterday to protest the marriage of these two Muslim girls. However, the girls had a talk with the protesting people and said they were marrying of their own accord. The police had to intervene to settle the issue.

Today senior Congress leader Mumtaz Masih and state party head of minorities department, Dr Khanukhan said the inter-religion marriages have hurt the sentiments of the Muslims.

Dr Khanukhan said the BJP-government in Rajasthan is pursuing dual politics. He said on the one hand, the State government is ushering- in the Anti-Conversion Bill which spells out two years non-bailable imprisonment for anyone found to be involved in forcible conversions. On the other hand, the BJP is encouraging religion conversion which equals to injustice for Muslims, he added.

State Congress chief Dr B D Kalla was, however, not available for comment.

Meanwhile, Citizens Association for Rights has criticised the move by various Muslim organisations to hinder the marriage proceedings, which it says, amounts to promoting communal tension by making the inter-religion marriages an issue.

UNI RRT PA DB1958