Uttarakhand: Why BJP leader cancelled his daughter’s wedding to a Muslim man?

A wedding invitation sparked controversy after it went viral on social media. Notably, the bride and the groom belong to different religious backgrounds. The bride is the daughter of a former MLA and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

As per the viral invitation, the wedding was scheduled to take place on May 28 at Pauri Garhwal. However, with the internet controversy, the wedding stayed cancelled as on May 22.

Yashpal Benam, the BJP leader while speaking with the media said, “Being a public representative, I did not want my daughter’s marriage to take place under the protection of the police and the administration. I respect public sentiments,”

Addressing the outrage against the wedding, the leader said, it was finalised with the consent of both families, however, had to be cancelled after something came to the fore.

“My daughter was going to get married to a Muslim youth. Keeping in view the happiness and future of the children, both families had decided to get them married, for which the cards were also printed and shared. But after the invitation card for the wedding went viral on social media, many types of things came to the fore objecting to the wedding,” he said.

“After the controversy erupted, with mutual consent, both families decided not to carry out the marriage rituals for the time being,” he added.

“Being a father, I accepted my daughter’s love. We sat with the groom’s family and decided to get them married. But under the current circumstances, because I am also a public representative and nagar palika (municipal council) chairman, my responsibility is also towards my people. This decision has been taken so that there is a happy and harmonious environment,” he told reporters.

“People said I should not publish a card, but I was not hiding anything from anyone. The card, however, went viral and several organisations sent me messages and the matter was posted on social media,” said Benam.

Addressing the anger among people he said,  “There are people of all kinds in this world. Some talked to me politely and others were harsh in their comments. But their anger is justified according to them, just like my love for my daughter is justified according to me… (The groom’s family) are good people, and neglecting them just because they are Muslim is not a good thing. Several people warned me against this marriage, saying this will put my political career in jeopardy. But I said that for me, my daughter’s happiness is important, and my political career is separate,” he said.

Benam came into politics with Congress however, he left the party a decade ago and joined BJP. before joining the party he has also been an Independent MLA from the Pauri Assembly constituency in 2007. He defeated BJP Tirath Singh Rawat.

Notably, volunteers of VHP, Bhairav Sena and Bajrang Dal burnt the effigy of the leader while protesting.