A wedding reception scheduled for December 21 in Aligarh has been cancelled following protests from right-wing groups, including Bajrang Dal, Karni Sena, and Brahman Maha Sabha. The groups claimed that the event could disturb communal harmony and labelled it as an example of “love jihad.” The couple, Ashar Choudhury and Avani Bhargava, both professionals living in the United States, had planned the celebration to mark their marriage with family and friends.
Ashar, 30, a senior executive at a U.S.-based multinational company, and Avani, 29, an MBA graduate, tied the knot four months ago in the United States. Their marriage, registered under the Special Marriage Act at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, was planned to be celebrated in their hometown at a hall on G.T. Road in Aligarh.
The controversy began after their reception invitation card circulated on social media. Right-wing groups, objected, claiming the event might cause communal tension.
On December 15, protesters marched to the Collectorate and submitted a memorandum demanding the cancellation of the event. Thakur Gyanendra Singh Chauhan, state president of Karni Sena, labelled the reception as an instance of “love jihad.”
“We will not step back, even if it means entering the hotel or challenging the administration,” Chauhan said.
Former Aligarh mayor Shakuntala Bharti echoed similar sentiments, stating, “The reception should not take place under any circumstances. If any incident occurs, the hotel owner and district administration will be held responsible.”
Bajrang Dal coordinator Gaurav Sharma added, “While adults are free to marry by choice under the Constitution, hosting such an event in a sensitive city like Aligarh could incite unrest. We are not against the marriage itself but against the reception here.”
Amid mounting pressure, the couple’s families decided to cancel the reception. In a social media statement, they cited “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason.
A family friend explained, “The event was scheduled for December 21, but concerns over the safety of guests led to the cancellation.”
Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar Bhatt confirmed receiving the memorandum, and local police reported that no untoward incidents occurred during the protests.
