Dalit bride, muslim groom, parents, venue ready- Why & how an interfaith Meerut wedding was stalled

Описание: In western Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, 29 year old Akanksha Gautam and 25 year old Shahvez Rana were all set to get married. As luck would have it, their wedding was called off at the last minute after a police FIR was filed against the groom alleging forced religious conversion, or "Love Jihad"
The couple had planned their wedding and had booked multiple halls and venues. Relatives of both their families were all set to begin functions, and both their families knew each other for years. The couple had also submitted documents under the secular Special Marriage Act, with the wedding rituals being planned as per Buddhist rituals since Akanksha is an Ambedkarite Buddhist. But, just hours before the ceremonies, Akanksha’s uncle Prem Chand and a local Hindutva leader Sachin Sirohi, filed a police complaint accusing the groom of “love jihad” and hiding his real name on the wedding card. One wedding card had his nickname 'Sahil', the other with his name Shahvez, and rightwing vigilantes caught onto this.
Today, the marriage stands canceled due to unproven allegations of forced conversion, even as Shahvez fears threats to his job and family. We look at how two families now struggle for a wedding.

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