The marriage of a Hindu BJP leader’s daughter to a Muslim youth, scheduled for May 28 in Uttarakhand, has been postponed “for the sake of law and order” after some BJP members and supporters fiercely opposed it.

“I don’t want the administration and police to face any problem because of the wedding of our children,” Yashpal Benam, president of the Pauri Nagar Palika in Uttarakhand, told reporters.

“I have discussed the controversy created by some people from my own party over this marriage with the parents of the groom and we have together decided to cancel all the functions for the time being.”

Benam’s daughter Monika and her would-be husband Monis, who is from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, studied engineering together and now work in the same company in a southern state.

Some people associated with the BJP have publicly opposed the marriage and claimed that Benam is “trying to play secular politics” to win future elections. Benam has been trolled ferociously on social media.

On Friday, Dharmveer Gusain, BJP functionary and a member of the state government-managed cow-protection commission, told reporters that the marriage was “objectionable” and “unacceptable”.

Benam said on Saturday: “We have come to know that some local organisations plan to protest against this marriage. The police are alert but it doesn’t look good for the wedding to be conducted under the shadow of force.

“Keeping in mind the law-and-order situation, the two families have decided not to go ahead with the functions planned on May 26, 27 and 28. We will soon decide what to do.”

Cashless AIIMS care for CGHS beneficiaries

New Delhi: The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) that covers over four million people, including pensioners, across India will provide cashless healthcare services at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other top central government hospitals, the health ministry announced on Saturday.

The cashless treatment facilities for outpatient and inpatient services will now be available to all CGHS beneficiaries at the AIIMS in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, the health ministry said after the CGHS signed agreements with the institutes.

G.S. MUDUR