KM Ashokan, the father of Hadiya, a Kerala woman who was at the centre of an alleged ‘love jihad’ case has joined Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).

Party's general secretary B Gopalakrishnan gave KM Ashokan, an ex-serviceman, the membership of the party on Monday, reported Hindustan Times.

Joining the saffron party, Ashokan said that the BJP was the only political outfit which is safeguarding the belief of Hindus.

A report added that Ashokan also said he will actively participate in the ongoing stir in Sabarimala. "I personally believe customs and traditions should not come under the preview of courts."

The development comes months after the Supreme Court junked Kerala High Court order, letting Hadiya stay with husband, the case which had grabbed nation's eyeballs after the homeopathy doctor converted to Islam and married a Muslim man.

Ashokan had approached the apex Court alleging his daughter was a victim of 'love jihad' and her marriage with Shafin Jahan was an act of 'adjustment' done by a group.

However, in March, the Supreme Court had restored Hadiya's marriage, setting aside a nine-month-old order of the Kerala High Court.

The matter came to the fore when Hadiya's husband Shafin Jahan challenged a Kerala High Court order annulling his marriage and sending her to her parents' custody.

On November 27 last year, the apex court had freed Hadiya from her parents' custody and sent her to college to pursue her studies.