Two Delhi women 'marry' in temple

NEW DELHI: Two women have "married" each other in an Arya Samaj temple in central Delhi, provoking their angry families to throw them out of their homes.

Geeta, 23, and Babli, 32, of Bapa Nagar in Karol Bagh locality of central Delhi entered into a same-sex marriage Monday, a first of its kind in the Indian capital.

"We met each other two years ago and become best friends, and now we have tied the knot in an Arya Samaj Mandir in Karol Bagh," Babli said on Wednesday.

"Our families used to often taunt us saying that we had already married each other. These remarks strengthened our desire to marry," said Geeta.

"We are committed to each other and will always stand by each other in any situation," she said.

However, Geeta's mother alleged her daughter had been "misled" by Babli, who had "some other motives".

"She wanted to extort Rs.200,000 from us. She threatened to ruin my daughter's life if we failed to pay the money," her mother said.
     
The matter came into light after the couple demanded protection from the city police from their families.

"We have provided the assistance sought by the couple, but no case has been registered against anyone," Deputy Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar said.