MADIKERI: A fresh debate over alleged “love jihad” cases has emerged in Kodagu district, a communally sensitive region of Karnataka, following a large-scale protest by Hindu organisations. The demonstrators claimed that there has been a noticeable rise in interfaith marriages involving Hindu women over the past year and alleged that such relationships were the result of organised efforts to influence and convert young women.
The protest, organised by the Hindu Suraksha Samiti along with other Hindu organisations, was held in the Siddapur area of Virajpet taluk. Hundreds of activists participated in a procession and later gathered for a public meeting, raising slogans and demanding greater awareness and intervention to protect what they described as the social and cultural fabric of the district.
According to the protesters, more than 10 Hindu women in Kodagu district have married men from other communities in the last one year. They further alleged that at least six such cases were reported within the Siddapur limits alone during this period. Including incidents from previous years, the organisations claimed that over 18 Hindu women from the region had entered into interfaith marriages, which they said had caused concern among local residents.
Kodagu, known for its ethnic diversity and history of communal harmony, has witnessed similar debates in the past. The latest protest comes amid growing polarisation around issues of religion and marriage in various parts of the state. Protest leaders said the objective of the demonstration was to create awareness among parents and young women, whom they claimed were being “misled” in the name of love and relationships.
Addressing the gathering, Hindu organisation leader Ganaraj alleged that “jihadi forces” were attempting to influence young women and gradually alter the district’s demographic and cultural balance. He referred to a recent case involving a college student from Gonikoppal who reportedly eloped with a youth from another community in Siddapur and later insisted on marrying him. Such incidents, he claimed, were becoming increasingly frequent and could not be ignored.
The speakers expressed concern that families were being emotionally affected by these developments. They alleged that, in several cases, young women had distanced themselves from their parents after marriage and, in some instances, converted to another religion. According to them, these developments had created fear and anxiety among conservative sections of society in Kodagu, particularly in rural areas.
At the same time, protest leaders acknowledged that there were clear legal limitations in intervening in marriages between consenting adults. They admitted that existing laws permit individuals to choose their partners irrespective of religion, and that direct legal action was often not possible. However, they urged parents to remain vigilant and to maintain open communication with their children to ensure they were not “misguided or exploited.”
The organisations also demanded that the government and district administration take note of the concerns being raised and introduce awareness programmes at the community level. They called for counselling initiatives, closer monitoring of sensitive cases, and engagement with educational institutions to address what they termed as a growing social issue.
So far, district authorities and the police have not released any official data to corroborate the figures cited by the protesters. Police officials have maintained that adults entering into marriage do so under the protection of law, and any complaint is examined strictly from a legal standpoint.
