On June 30, a disturbing incident unfolded in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, where a Hindutva leader harassed an interfaith couple, comprising a Muslim man, Shahid Ansari, and his Hindu wife, Kusum. The leader, whose identity remains unknown, barged into the couple’s home in the Vijaynagar area, hurling derogatory Islamophobic remarks at Shahid. Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain shared a video of the incident on social media, showcasing the leader’s aggressive behavior. The couple, who have been living together since their marriage two months ago, claimed that their union was consensual and that Kusum’s parents had agreed to the marriage. However, the Hindutva leader refused to accept their statements, using religious slurs to describe Shahid and questioning Kusum about her decision to marry a Muslim man. The leader’s actions have been widely condemned, with MP Hussain alleging that such incidents are emboldened by the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh. The Additional Commissioner of Police, Raj Karan Nayyar, stated that he was unaware of the incident but confirmed that no citizen is allowed to enter another’s home and question their marriage or identity. The incident has sparked concerns about the rise of hate crimes and intimidation against interfaith couples in the region.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf