Ariba Sayeed | MM

NEW DELHI –The Hindu Mahasabha has challenged prominent Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan to adopt Hinduism if they “really” loved their wives, who are from Hindu religion.

This barrage comes in the form of an editorial in the weekly publication of Hindu Sabha Varta.

The editorial also targets Indian film-makers who pair Muslim male actors along with Hindu actresses. “Once Hindu girls see Muslim actors doing Hindu roles with Hindu actresses, they don’t find it immoral to be with Muslim men. They start looking for their heroes in Muslim men living in their vicinity.”

The editorial says “It is because of these films and actors that Hindu girls find marrying Muslim men perfectly normal. These Muslim actors have become an inspiration for the ‘love jihad’ to be propagated”.

Munna Kumar Singh, the Editor and Publisher of the weekly, says if these Muslim actors love their wives, why do their wives have to convert to Islam and embrace Muslim culture? Why can’t they continue to retain their Hindu title instead of taking on the title of their Muslim husbands?

Responding to the challenge, Saif Ali Khan condemned the claims about Muslim men marrying Hindu women as part of “love jihad” to win more converts to Islam.

Khan revealed that he and his wife (Kareena) were agonized with death threats and allegations of “love jihad” when they got married in 2012, and added that he has respect for all religions, and love between them (Saif and Kareena) was the essence of India.

Saif believes it is the differences, which exist in India, that makes us who we are. He also suggested that we need to move ahead of mere tolerance and should accept, respect and love each other. He further added that he wants to defend mixed-religion weddings as a sign of Indian tolerance.

The whole “love jihad” fuss was originated in August 2014 when a 20 year old Hindu girl claimed that she was abducted, gang-raped, and forcefully converted to Islam for marriage, by a Muslim lad named Kaleem Sheikh.

Later, the girl withdrew her statement, saying she was under pressure from her family who opposed her relationship with a Muslim youth. The girl also disclosed that the religious disparity did not mattered to her as Kareem, the Muslim boy, assured her that she can continue practicing Hinduism and can also visit temples even after they get married.