SMS campaign offers reward to 'Hindus marrying Muslim girls'

INDORE: In the wake of a controversy over the wedding of a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl here, a member of a radical group on Tuesday issued a SMS 'farmaan' (edict) with a reward of Rs 5,000 for any Hindu boy who married a Muslim girl.

Rajesh Bidkar, a member of Bhagwa Brigade and Marath Samaj, launched an SMS campaign in which he claimed to have reached out to over 1,000 people with his message. He also and offered protection to Hindus who married Muslim girls.

He claimed "the practice of Hindu girls eloping with Muslim boys had become quite prevalent".

In the message, Bidkar said he had no objection to Hindu girls marrying Muslims, provided they are not cheated in the name of a religion "which permits to keep more than one wife".

Urging people to forward the SMS to at least 10 others "in the interest of Hindutva", Bidkar said: "We are not against love, but against innocent girls being exploited in name of religion".