The get-together, scheduled for Saturday to celebrate an interfaith couple’s return home to Aligarh for the first time since their parents got married in the United States, was due to protests by members of Hindu organizations, police said.
They got married in March under the Special Marriage Act in the presence of family and registered the marriage at the Consulate General of India in San Francisco.
It was only after both the families shared the invitations that the Hindu organization came to know about the gathering.
Soon, members of various organizations protested and took out a rally at the Collector’s office, where they submitted a memorandum to the senior administrative officer.
“We are not against their marriage as they are adults, but we were against the gathering on December 21. Such events can lead to more interaction between men and women from two different communities,” said Gaurav Sharma, convener of The Hindu. The organization Bajrang Bal has emphasized in the memorandum that the program will not be allowed.
Gaurav Sharma called Bajrang Bal ‘a Hindu organization formed about 6 years ago’. Sharma said that Karni Sena, Brahmin Mahasabha and other organizations also participated in the movement.
Both husband and wife are from Aligarh working in multinational companies in USA. Due to some obstacles, this couple could not go to India for marriage. “As a result, both the families went to the US to participate in a peaceful ceremony. The marriage was solemnized on March 28 under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act and the US Citizenship Act. After getting the attestation, it was registered at the Consulate General of India in San Francisco and later in May, ” said the woman’s father, a businessman.
The couple had recently returned to India and their families had planned a meeting on December 21. Invitations were distributed. The woman’s father said, “We decided to cancel the program as some people were unhappy with it.” Sources said that the family also announced their decision on social media and said that the program was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
The station house officer on behalf of the local police station said that there was no untoward incident during the protest.
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