Peter Abraham and Meena Gond are finally married. End of a love story? No, it is just the beginning after a courtship that was spent fighting everyone from the fundamentalists to a wary society.
Abraham and Gond married in court on Thursday, two days after Peter and Meena met Governor Balram Jakhar and alleged that the district administration, under pressure from the VHP-affiliated Dharm Sena, was not solemnizing their marriage.
The Dharm Sena, a VHP outfit, had done all it could to prevent rickshaw-puller Peter, 38, from marrying tribal Meena, 36. They lodged a complaint with the marriage officer, stating that Peter had lured polio-afflicted Meena with money and that he would convert her to his faith after their wedding.
Peter and Meena, accompanied by a delegation of the city Congress, had met Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar on January 8 after the marriage officer allegedly refused to solemnise their marriage on January 4 – for the second time - saying that the ‘conversion’ complaint against Peter was being probed. Jakhar then directed the chief secretary to look into the matter.
After a probe, marriage officer Deepak Singh said the complaint against Peter was baseless.
{{/usCountry}}After a probe, marriage officer Deepak Singh said the complaint against Peter was baseless.
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