India and Pakistan and such other countries cannot remain medieval and patriarchal any longer. Young men and women have become very much assertive about their personal choices and preferences. Neither love affairs nor love marriages can be torpedoed any longer by the bogey of “love Jehad”, said the Freethought Party of India (FPI). The party condemned two incidents, one Daulat Paur area of Muzaffargarh in Pakistan’s Punjab province and the other in Malaviharpur village under Banki PS in Cuttack district, where forced marriages took places against the will of those married ultimately leading to disastrous consequences.
“love marriage is the birthright of each and every human being. There should not be any forced marriage anywhere in the world. It is a pity that political leaders cutting across party lines both in India and Pakistan do not say it candidly that love marriage is 100 per cent ideal and good and the same can make life worth living and the same is capable of removing all social dirt and prejudices bred by casteism and communalism,” opined FPI general secretary B Ramchandra CST Voltaire.