A BJP leader in Uttarakhand has chastised his party members for opposing the impending marriage of his daughter to a Muslim, telling them not to forget “this is the 21st century”.

“This is the 21st century and our children have every right to take their own decisions. Nobody should oppose it,” said Yashpal Benam, president of the Pauri Garhwal Nagal Palika (municipality) whose daughter Monika is set to get married to Monis Ahmad, son of Raees Ahmad, on May 28.

“I want to tell those who are looking at this event through the prism of religion that it is something very crucial for the two families. Two youths are involved in this and religion is least important for me in this case. However, this marriage will be held according to Hindu tradition,” Benam said.

The invitation card issued on behalf of Usha Rawat, Benam’s wife, shows the would-be bride and groom standing with garlands in their hands. Monis, the groom, is from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Monis and Monika had studied together at Lucknow University.

Pictures of the invitation card have been shared widely on social media, with BJP members and supporters criticising Benam.

Dharmveer Gusain, a BJP member and member of the state government-managed Gosewa Ayog (cow-protection commission), told reporters: “We still follow the tradition of short dhoti (lower-rung Brahmin) and long dhoti (higher-rung Brahmin) in Uttarakhand. This means we believe in our traditions and cannot accept anything that is objectionable in our culture. We cannot accept such marriages.”