Slained Neha’s father connects daughter’s murder to ‘Love Jihad’
HUBBALLI: Niranjan Hiremath, a Congress Corporator and father of the late MCA student Neha Hiremath, who was tragically murdered on Thursday, has linked the incident to “love jihad.”
Addressing the media on Friday, Hiremath expressed concern over what he perceives as the rapid spread of “love jihad.”
Responding to questions about the motive behind his daughter’s murder, Hiremath commented, “Incidents are taking place on these lines. When we see incidents around us, brutality is on the rise. I don’t know why these youngsters are taking the wrong path and have such a mindset.”
Contrary to Hiremath’s claims, the Congress government has maintained that the tragic incident occurred due to personal reasons and that Neha and the accused, Fayaz, were in a relationship.
The controversial remarks by Hiremath are expected to ignite a heated debate in the state, given the sensitive nature of the “love jihad” term and its potential to polarise communities.
Hiremath also called upon the state government and leaders to take appropriate action regarding the case. “The authorities have assured us that they will provide all the necessary information about the investigations. I appeal to the state government and all leaders to take suitable action in this regard,” he added.
The incident and subsequent statements have intensified discussions around women’s safety and communal harmony in the region, prompting calls for a measured and empathetic approach to addressing such sensitive issues.
Additionally, Hiremath spoke out about the events leading up to the devastating incident. He disclosed that the accused, Fayaz, had previously proposed to Neha, but she had declined his advances due to caste differences.
“She rejected his proposal due to caste differences, which angered him, leading to this tragic incident,” Hiremath revealed. He further asserted that the family had cautioned Fayaz against pursuing Neha due to their religious disparities.