Karnataka and Kerala High Courts have confirmed the practice of 'love jihad',claims newly elected RSS General Secretary

Bengaluru: The newly elected Sarkaryavah (general secretary) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Dattatreya Hosabale, claimed on Saturday that the both Karnataka and Kerala high courts have confirmed the practice of 'love jihad'.

Hosabale was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Akhila Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), the RSS' highest decision-making body that concluded at Bangaluru.

According to a report by IANS, Hosabale claimed that the term was not coined by the RSS, but by the judiciary -courts in Kerala and Assam - which were the first to use the terminology.

"In the name of love and marriage, cheating women and committing fraud to convert them or to abduct them have created furore in the society" he said.

"To curb such acts, a lot of states are bringing laws" adding that suitable laws and regulations have to be introduced and the RSS will support such laws," headded

"The use of fraudulent methods to lure girls for marriage and conversion is condemnable and it has to be opposed", he further added

Hosabale asserted that the RSS had never held a viewpoint that girls should not marry the boys of their choice.

"Even among the staunch supporters of the RSS, many have married into different caste groups. We are for progressive thinking. But that doesn't mean allowing girls to be lured by fraudulent methods, either with the sole intention of converting them to a particular religion or to sell them off in some other country. Such fraud marriages should not be allowed anywhere. It is a matter of woman's dignity, nothing else," he said.

Hosabale stated that as far as RSS is concerned, it will work towards a society which is bereft of all differences in terms of caste, community etc.

"The RSS will always work towards the creation of a united society. It does not consider caste and other differences as is evident in its working," he said.

Dattatreya Hosabale, who was the Sah-Sarkaryavah of the Sangh since 2009 was elected as the Sarkaryavah at the two-day annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the Sangh's highest decision-making body on Friday.

Hosabale is the second Kannadiga to occupy No 2 position in RSS after H V Seshadri.

During its 2-day meeting, the ABPS passed two resolutions: that the construction of Ram Mandir was a manifestation of the "innate strength of Bharat" and that "Bharat stands united against the Covid-19 pandemic".

(From IANS with edits)