Love Jihad: BJP Leader Pankaja Munde Says 'Love Is Love'

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pankaja Munde during a press conference in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh on Sunday responded to a question about 'love jihad' by saying that love is love and it sees no barriers. She further explained that the BJP-led government never intended to spread the idea of 'love jihad'.

During the press conference, someone told Munde citing an example of an inter-religious couple who faced trouble for marrying each other and asked what did she think of it, Munde responded by saying, "I think love is love. Love sees no walls. If two people have come together purely out of love, it should be respected. But if there is some bitterness and artifice behind it, it should be seen differently."

Munde further spoke about the development done by the BJP government over the last nine years in the Centre. She said, "No such subject as ‘love jihad’ has ever been on the agenda of the Modi government. The discussions are always centred on development and redevelopment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus is to put the country on the road to development and progress in the next 25 years."

But Pankaja Munde recently spoke differently about her party, she reportedly claimed that she belongs to the BJP party but the party doesn't belong to him.

Other BJP leaders on 'love jihad'

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier reportedly claimed that 'love jihad' was on the rise in his state and he aims to 'crack a whip' to reduce it.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan also made a comment on taking steps towards controlling 'love jihad in his state. He told the media, "What is clear is that we have taken the issue of love jihad, religious conversion and promotion of terrorist activities very seriously. I want to make it clear that neither love jihad nor the vicious cycle of religious conversion would be tolerated in the state."

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Indresh Kumar recently spoke his mind about this topic when he claimed that scams in the name of love will not be tolerated. Kumar was found telling the media, "Today love is being maligned. India was, is and will remain the land of love. Murder and conversion are happening in the name of love and people have called it love jihad. We condemn fraud and violence in the name of love."