‘Why should women change religion in the name of love and marriage?’

Kerala’s Hindu Aikya Vedi (HAV) state president K P Sasikala on Tuesday (Sept 12) asked, “Why should a woman leave her religion while marrying outside it, for the sake of fulfilling love?” Her question was in connection with the controversial Akhila-Hadiya love jihad case.

The Kerala High Court had annulled Akhila alias Hadiya's marriage with Shafin in May. The Supreme Court has now ordered a probe by the National Investigation Agency in the case.

“A statement in the Assembly said nearly 6,000 women were converted to their husband’s religion post marriage. This includes women of all religions. As a woman, I ask why should women let go of their religion for marriage?"

“A statement in the Assembly said nearly 6,000 women were converted to their husband’s religion post marriage. This includes women of all religions. As a woman, I ask why should women let go of their religion for marriage? The religion did not matter before marriage and it will not be an issue in the conjugal life. The husband will not be allergic in the bedroom if his wife is not of the same religion as him,” she said, The New Indian Express reported.

She proposed that women can marry anyone from any religious background and still follow their own religion. Sasikala said, “This is applicable to all religions. Such conversions in the name of love will stop when women stop it.”

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She also petitioned for an amendment in the constitution, questioning whether citizens are misusing their right to follow any religion.

“Humans wrote the constitution, not the gods,” she said.

Both the High Court and the Supreme Court showed their concerns in the way Akhila’s wedding took place.

“The girl’s parents have concerns regarding her identity change. Nearly 23 girls have left the country without their parents’/relatives’ knowledge after converting for marriage with people following terrorist ideologies,” she said.

She accused the Indian Union Muslim League for giving patronage to such conversions.“Youth League state president Saeed Munavvar Ali Thangal and P K Kunhalikkutty MP's intervention in the case aim to sabotage SC's probe order,” she alleged.

Students' collective Pinjra Tod has also been staging protests in the last few weeks to free Hadiya. The Kerala HC had ordered that Hadiya's family keep her under house arrest for counselling.

Picture credit- Independent.co.uk