Interfaith couple forced to call off wedding reception in UP after right-wing protest

On Monday, the members submitted a complaint to the police calling for an FIR against those who had organised the walima, alleging that it had the potential to disturb communal harmony and create tension in the area.

Rajesh Awasthi, who claimed to be the Braj Prant Vidhi Pramukh of the Hindu Jagran Manch and was part of the protest, alleged that the man’s family distributed invitation cards in which the name of the woman and her family was prominently mentioned.

He alleged, “The decision to hold the reception in Shahjahanpur was a calculated attempt to provoke and taunt the… community… We staged a protest at the police station and demanded that the walima be cancelled as such an event could disturb communal harmony… A police team visited the marriage lawn… and ensured the programme was cancelled.”

Superintendent of Police, Shahjahanpur, Rajesh Dwivedi said after receiving information about the matter, a police team visited the spot where the family informed them that they did not wish to hold the function and had cancelled it.

He added that the wedding was found to be solemnised under the Special Marriage Act and no untoward matter has been found. SP Dwivedi also confirmed that the police had received an application from an organisation seeking registration of a case.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the groom’s 60-year-old father said a small wedding ceremony had been held in Delhi which was attended by only a few people. “January 11 was the birthday of my younger daughter, and I planned to organise a gathering on the same day… the walima of my son and daughter-in-law was also scheduled to take place,” he said.

“… The programme was to begin around 7 pm… food had been prepared for around 600 guests. But around 4 pm, a police team arrived at the venue and asked me not to go ahead with the event,” he alleged.

He also claimed that a few right-wing members were also present. “Following the police request, I cancelled the programme,” he claimed. “All the food… went to waste.”

He added that the couple returned to Delhi. He also said he invited people verbally and had not printed or circulated any invitation cards.

Awasthi, meanwhile, said he has urged authorities to seal the marriage lawn and initiate legal proceedings against its owner for permitting the event to be organised.

When contacted, BJP’s Shahjahanpur district president Shilpi Gupta said she was not aware of the walima being cancelled due to the protest. She confirmed that Awasthi is associated with the Hindu Jagran Manch.