I will marry my Muslim friend; it's my wish: Hindu girl shames saffron groups

Mandya, Apr 15: Expressing frustration over continued harassment by BJP backed communal groups after she decided to marry her Muslim friend, Ashita, daughter of a paediatrician in Mandya, has appealed to the people to stay away from her familial affairs.

Shakeel Ahmed and Ashita alias Shaista Sultana

Brushing aside the allegations of so called love jihad', the well-educated girl, who has now changed her name as Shaista Sultana, said that no one forced her to accept Islam and that it was her wish to follow the religion and culture of her husband after the wedding.

“My life is mine and others have no business in it. I have been in love with a Muslim boy for past 12 years. He is my life. He is my future. I cannot live without him,” she said and requested the media not spread lies of love jihad'.

She also said that it was she who forced her Muslim friend and not vice versa. “Shakeel Ahmed (her boy friend) is very innocent boy. When he came to know that communal groups were harassing me and my parents for deciding to marry him, he was in shock. Finally, I and my parents convinced him and the wedding date was fixed,” she said.

“When both the families have agreed for the wedding who are they to oppose it? They are not only harassing us but also going against the constitution and law,” she said reminding that she has the right to choose her life partner.

Workers of the BJP and Bajrang Dal had protested outside her house in Mandya on Tuesday. Ashitha said some people even barged into her house and created tension. They have also called for a district-wide band on Saturday (April 16) in protest against the marriage, which is scheduled for April 17.

Threat call from Dubai

Meanwhile, Ashitha's father Dr Narendra Babu said he was getting threat calls. Speaking to reporters, he said a man claiming to be calling from Dubai warned him that if the marriage was not cancelled, either Ashitha or Shakeel would be bumped off. Another man, who identified himself as Avinash Joshi, offered to “personally counsel” the couple against the marriage.

Dr Babu said he had reported the threat calls to Diwakar, deputy director, Department of Women and Child Development, who has assured to take the necessary action. “Our daughter's happiness is all that matters. Our thanks to all those who support us,” he said.

Also Read: 

Hindu-Muslim wedding: Communal groups call for bandh; several booked

Hindu-Muslim wedding; families agree but Hindutva extremists stage protest