Love Defies Odds: Kerala Offers Shelter and Support to Interfaith Couple Amidst Threats

Thiruvananthapuram: The state of Kerala, which is well known for its secular traditions, has provided a safe shelter for a pair of young lovers who ran away from Jharkhand due to the Love Jihad threat from relatives and religious fundamentalists. Muhammed Ghalib and Asha Verma, aged 30 and 27, respectively, hail from Chithapur, reached Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district, got married under a special marriage act, and a decade-long love has been fulfilled.

Asha’s parents fixed her wedding last month. Upon knowing this, Ghalib rushed to his hometown from UAE, where he worked as an Engineer. His negotiations with his parents and Asha’s parents failed, and the situation escalated when religious fundamentalists came into the picture. When the situation turned to potential communal tension, both Ghalib and Asha left their hometown and reached Kayamkulam with the advice of a Malayali colleague. After reaching Kayamkulam, they sought the help of a lady advocate. After the ceremony, they applied for marriage registration.

Close relatives from Jharkhand reached Kayamkulam to take Asha along with them. However, she decided not to go with them. After this, the relatives registered a police case accusing Ghalib of kidnapping Asha.

District Police Chief M P Mohanachandran gave instructions to protect the couples, and they sought legal protection through the Kerala High Court. Both Ghalib and Asha reacted that Kerala had assured their protection and that the people would not give them up. Due to the Sanghparivar threat, Ghalib’s parents had to flee from Chithapur and settle in Ranchi.