AGRA: Amid high security around parks and hotels on Valentine's Day , a right wing group this year welcomed the occasion with purportedly open arms. Hindu Kalyan Mahasabha Agra unit felicitated and bestowed monetary bless to a couple, which hailed from two different religious communities.Sanjay Jat, the convenor of local right-wing outfit, said, “We were never against Valentine's Day, but were against the evil practices, where men posing themselves as Hindu, trapped our community girls and ruined their lives.”“On Valentine's Day we have publically honoured a couple (belonging from different religious background ) in order to give a message that as Hindu our culture is to accept everyone unlike the other community men who are often found dishonouring and exploiting our community women after marrying them. We are not against inter-religious marriage, but just demand equal respect and dignity, the way our men offer to their women,” he said.The couple were also given Rs 51,000 cheque by the right-wing group leader.The couple felicitated by Hindu Kalyan Mahasabha were identified as Akash (23) and Nisha Khan (19). The couple got married last year in August month against their parent’s wish. Currently, the couple lives in Barakhamba area of Agra city.Samim Agai, president of Bharatiya Muslim Vikas Parishad, said, “The sudden liberal stance of a right-wing group creates a doubt in mind, as their associated organisations have been infamous for ultra-extreme stance towards inter-religious marriages especially when the boy is Muslim. But if they have genuinely moved ahead keeping behind old repressive thought, we welcome their move and at the same time also want to convey that society in whole has evolved over the years. Every woman who marries a Muslim man is given respect and equal dignity.”

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