ABVP to launch campaign against 'love jihad' in DU

New Delhi: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) will soon launch a campaign in the Delhi University to counter 'love jihad' in an attempt to what it claims as raising voice against atrocities on women. The campaign, which will include sensitizing and raising awareness on 'love jihad', will be launched soon after the varsity reopens in mid-October after vacation, ABVP leaders said. 

"We will campaign against 'love jihad' in the DU after colleges re-open. The ABVP top leadership has already announced for a campaign in all universities," Rohit Chahal, ABVP national secretary and a student of Buddhist Studies at DU, claimed. Observing that cases of 'love jihad' are reportedly increasing across the country, the ABVP leaders claimed that the trend of Hindu women falling in love with Muslim men posing as Hindus and their alleged forceful conversion is not a simple event but is happening as part of a strategy.

"There are many cases of 'love jihad'. We will launch a campaign in all universities to raise awareness on 'love jihad' which is part of a larger campaign. We are not against love but against hiding identity and forced conversions," ABVP national vice-president Mamta Yadav asserted.

The ABVP leaders said that their move is aimed at restoring 'respect for women', 'safety for women' and achieving a 'liquor-free culture'. At a recent national meeting, the ABVP had reportedly decided to form vigilante groups at universities to curb 'love jihad'.

Chahal said that the ABVP will run a general awareness campaign on women's safety, female foeticide and other issues in the DU. The ABVP will form a human chain on October 7 at various locations in the country to raise awareness against atrocities on women.