Patna: Hindutva activists have accused Bollywood actor Aamir Khan of "love jihad" following his marriage to friend Gauri Spratt, staging a protest in Bihar's Forbesganj by burning his effigy and raising slogans against him.
The protest was held on Tuesday by Bajrang Dal activists, who wore saffron scarves and alleged that Aamir was targeting Hindu women through his marriages. Referring to his previous marriages as well as his recent marriage to Gauri Spratt, they claimed the actor was engaged in a campaign of "love jihad."
Aamir and Gauri were married on July 5. Reports indicate that Gauri, who has Tamil-Irish roots, follows the Christian faith. Aamir was previously married to Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao.
Two days after the wedding, Bajrang Dal leader Manoj Soni released a video accusing the actor of repeatedly marrying and later separating from Hindu women to insult the Hindu community. He alleged that the marriages were part of a larger conspiracy to weaken Hindus and claimed Aamir was deliberately creating discord within the community. Soni also threatened that the actor would be "taught a lesson" if such actions continued and demanded government intervention against him. He further questioned why Aamir did not marry Muslim women and objected to his children being given Muslim names.
A women’s wing leader of the Bajrang Dal also joined the campaign, claiming that if Aamir were a true Muslim, he would have married Muslim women instead.
The protests have brought renewed "love jihad" allegations against the actor in the wake of his latest marriage.