'Love Jihad' a BJP creation, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday gave a strong statement on ‘love jihad’ and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of “manufacturing” the term to divide the nation along communal lines.
"Marriage is a matter of personal liberty and bringing a law to curb it is completely unconstitutional," he tweeted on Friday.
Gehlot’s tweets come amid four BJP-ruled states – Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Karnataka – announced their intention to bring in a law against 'love-jihad.'
"Love Jihad is a word manufactured by BJP to divide the Nation & disturb communal harmony. Marriage is a matter of personal liberty, bringing a law to curb it is completely unconstitutional & it will not stand in any court of law. Jihad has no place in Love (sic)," Gehlot's tweet reads.
According to Congress leader, BJP is "creating an environment in the nation where consenting adults would be at the mercy of state power."
Marriage is a personal decision and they (BJP) are putting curbs on it, which is like snatching away personal liberty, CM Gehlot tweeted.
He further said: "It seems a ploy to disrupt communal harmony, fuel social conflict and disregard constitutional provisions like the state not discriminating against citizens on any ground."
