About a dozen couples are flaunting their Hindu-Muslim marriages on election posters pasted across the walls of Muzaffarnagar, a bustling city in west UP which in 2013 suffered India’s worst riots in a decade.

Muslim men have taken their Hindu Dalit wives out of household chores into local politics after the Uttar Pradesh election commission reserved the post of the zila panchayat chairperson for a Scheduled Caste (SC) woman.

This novel appeal, which inverts the idea of love jihad (fears of Muslim men marrying Hindu women to convert them), goes out to both communities still living in the shadow of riots. It may help heal a few wounds two years after violence ripped through the lanes, markets and fields of Muzaffarnagar, 130 km from Delhi, in which 65 were killed and thousands displaced.

Chhoti Devi, whose name on campaign posters is ‘Chhoti Begum’, with her husband Amir Ali

Polling to elect zila panchayat members in Uttar Pradesh is taking place in four phases: October 9, 13, 17 and 29. These members - 43 in the case of Muzaffarnagar - will elect one chairperson in each of the 70-odd districts of the state to carry out development works in rural areas.

In the narrow lanes of Purkaji, 25 km from the main city, 40-year-old Chhoti Devi is campaigning in ward No. 2 (reserved for SC women candidates). While she talks about the poor and the need to build toilets for them, her family seeks votes for her. And so do brick supplier Amir Ali (50), who married her in 1995, and his family members. Her name on campaign posters is ‘Chhoti Begum’.

A fragile peace holds sway in the whole of western UP following a spurt in clashes over issues like cow slaughter and religious conversion - linked by some to the installation of a BJP-led government at the Centre.

Nasim Ahmed (50) who runs a milk dairy, is Ali’s childhood friend.

One of the posters featuring a Hindu- Muslim couple ahead of zila panchayat polls in Muzaffarnagar. The first phase of polls will be held on Friday.

He says: “Ours is not a political move. Aman kaayam kare mein ye ek alag nazeer banegi.”

And it’s not only about the zila panchayat chairperson’s seat. Eight of the 43 seats are reserved for SC women, where a Muslim cannot contest. These Hindu Dalit women are those who did not have ‘nikaah’ but opted for court marriage, and are eligible to contest.

“In some cases, Hindu women who had converted filed nominations. We’re rejecting those,” said an election officer.

All three key players - the ruling Samajwadi Party, BJP and BSP - are taking these polls seriously, hoping that positive results will enthuse their cadres to go all out for the all-important Assembly elections in 2017.

Back in her home, ‘Chhoti Begum’, clad in a white salwarkurta, is cooking for her husband. How did they get married?

“You don’t know your fate. Khuda na jaane kab kis-se mila de,” she blushes.

Her husband chips in. “She used to work at my jaggery plant. I quite liked her. It wasn’t a tough decision,” he says.

Supported by Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM, Reena Singh, wife of Md Kaleem, is contesting from ward No. 7.

In ward No. 32, SP-supported Anita can be seen campaigning with husband Hasibur Rahman. Most such couples are reluctant to come on record, fearing publicity may lead to rejection of candidature.

Peace efforts

“We have always been peace-loving. Riots are always sparked by outsiders. One should not read too much into my decision to contest,” said a candidate.

For the October 9 round about 250 people have filed nominations, and many of them are Dalit Hindu wives of Muslim men.

“More such candidates are likely to emerge when nominations are filed for the rest of the rounds,” said an election officer.

How did they cope when riots broke out?

“In my locality, there were only five Hindu families. They tried fleeing. We held them back. I told them you were going nowhere,” Ali said.

Sparked by the killing of a Muslim youth, accused of harassing a Hindu girl, the riots were seen to have been aggravated by politicians.

The population of Hindus and Muslims is in the ratio of 60:40.

Setting out for a fresh round of campaigning, Chhoti says: “My parents were not against the marriage. But I never quit my religion; I had warned him (Ali) before,” she says with a smile.

Her brother Sanjeet Kumar, however, is now Aas Mohammad.

These elections are revealing how so-called backward castes Jaats and Gujjars, despite khap and panchayat diktats, married Dalits. These women are coming out in the open to contest on behalf of their ‘ineligible’ husbands.

Rubi - the wife of Mangal Singh Gujjar - and Sushila Devi - Bachan Singh Gujjar’s wife - are two such women.

'Beef party' sparks violence in J&K House

By Naseer Ganai in Srinagar

The lava of hate which erupted out of the Dadri volcano in Uttar Pradesh a few days ago continues to rage on across the country, engulfing those who touch it.

And on Thursday, it was the turn of independent MLA Engineer Rashid, who was thrashed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly for throwing a beef party on Wednesday evening.

Ahead of question hour, Rashid was seated when BJP MLAs Rajiv Sharma, Gagan Bhagat and Ravinder Raina rushed toward him and started trashing. More members from the saffron brigade joined them and pounced on him.

A TV grab of the incident in the J&K Assembly

As BJP MLAs assaulted him, several NC and Congress MLAs rushed to save him. The assault on the floor of the House triggered an angry reaction from the opposition with National Congress (NC) leader Omar Abdullah describing the attack as ‘Dadri-style’ and saying that if the Opposition had not intervened, the BJP MLAs would have killed Rashid.

“An honourable member being assaulted in the House. It seems that they wanted to murder him. If he had done anything that was objectionable that should have been put on record,” Omar said.

On the beef issue, he said: “We respect everyone’s sentiment. We don’t want to hurt your sentiments. My religion prohibits consumption of alcohol and pork... Do I assault everyone who eats pork or alcohol?”.

Condeming the attack on Rashid, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said: “What happened today is highly unfortunate. The sanctity of the House should be maintained and it should not be reduced to a wrestling ring where blows are exchanged.”

He also asked deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh from the BJP to apologise, which he did reluctantly.

Later, after stepping out from the House, Rashid told reporters that he would have been killed had the Opposition members not intervened.