BJP MLAs from Dakshina Kannada wage 'love jihad' in Assembly

At least three influential MLAs from Dakshina Kannada district expressed concern about 'love jihad' and sought government's immediate action to prevent Hindu girls being converted into Islam by Muslim youth after winning their hearts.

However, Bantwal MLA B Ramanath Rai said that BJP MLAs deliberately raising the baseless and sensational issues to disrupt communal harmony in Dakshina Kannada.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Puttur MAL Mallika Prasad accused the government of not taking steps to prevent Hindu girls being attracted towards Muslims and Islam, especially in Dakshina Kannada district. She accused the Muslim youths of converting Hindu girls after winning their heart.

Presenting statistics without any documents or sources, she said that as many as 84 Hindu girls have been missing and 69 of them have confessed to have been lured by Muslim youths who professed love. The worrying factor is that some girls are pushed into the flesh trade, she added.

Sullia MLA S Angara alleged that police booked a case against an elected representative in his assembly constituency when he went to complain about a youth who had eloped with a girl.

Mangalore South MLA Yogish Bhat, who is also the Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly, said, this was a serious matter. He said that this year 64 girls went missing in Udupi district and only 42 have been traced.

Bhat also said that police have been threatening those who inform them about alleged conversion. “The government should take immediate action to stop this”, he said.

Terming 'love jihad' a lie Ramanath Rai expressed concern over moral policing "A few years ago, members of the minority community were beaten by Sangh Parivar cadres for transporting cattle. In some instances, Sangh Parivar have members indulged in moral policing. When there are police and the law and order system, where's the need for moral policing?" asked Rai. Mulky-Moodbidri MLA Abhay Chandra Jain too supported Mr Rai.

However, House leader S Suresh Kumar, upholding the argument of BJP MLAs from Dakshina Kannada said that 'love jihad' is a dangerous trend. "The government will take appropriate action and ask the home department to take measures to curtail it," he said.