Delhi

Love transcended hate as Rasika Adgaonkar and Ashif Khan of Nashik, Maharashtra, whose wedding function was cancelled after people called their marriage ‘love jihad’ forcing Rasika’s parents to cancel it have finally tied the knot.

In May the two had got married in a court of law in the presence of their parents. Rasika’s father Prasad Adgaonkar, a well-off jeweller, had wanted to hold a reception- cum-social wedding of the couple before Rasika formally left for her matrimonial home.

He had printed invitation cards for the wedding function to be held in a hotel on July 18.

The wedding card was leaked, possibly from some relative and it became viral so social media with people calling the marriage a ‘love jihad.’

On Wednesday, when Rashika and Asif took their marriage vows amidst chanting on mantras by Hindu priests and a Muslim cleric making them sign on a ‘nikahnama’ as per Islamic rituals, love as a reality and a metaphor had triumphed over hate.

Rasika and Ashif were childhood and their families too were known to each other. Legally they are married under the Special Marriages Act without either having to change his religion.

Also read: Asif, Rasika pained by 'love Jihad' rant on their marriage

A dejected Prasad Prasad Adgaonkar had to cancel the function leaving the couple teary-eyed. Asif's father Maqbool Khan was also unhappy at this development. When the media reported the pressure on the families, there was a turnaround of the public perception.

Soon, the same people who had opposed the wedding and labelled it as ‘love jihad’ came forward to show their support to the couple and their families.

Maharashtra’s minister Bachcha Kadu came forward to support the families and do did several NGOs and social organizations.

Finally, Prasad Adgaonkar regained his confidence to hold the function for the couple.