"If This Is Not Love Jihad Then What Is?": Karnataka Congress Leader On Daughter Neha's Murder

The murder of Neha Hiremath, a 23-year-old MCA student in Hubbali, Karnataka, has taken a contentious turn with her father alleging a "love jihad" angle in the crime.

Neha, daughter of Congress corporator Niranjan Hiremath, was brutally stabbed to death by a former college classmate, Fayaz Khondunaik, who confessed to the crime during interrogation.

According to Neha's father, the accused had plotted to trap his daughter.

He said that only one person has been arrested and others too should be nabbed soon.

"I demand everyone in the region to not help the man in any way. He should stay in jail and die there... I will not sit quiet till he is hanged... I demand the Court, the Bar Association and the police to take strict action in cases of love jihad and punish the perpetrators... One person has been arrested so far out of 4. I demand the others also be arrested at the earliest...," he said.

When asked if he believed it was a case of Love Jihad, he said, "If this is not Love Jihad then what is? He confessed that he loved my daughter and she refused. So he killed her... For love jihad, they target girls of good families... I am thankful for all the support we have got in these difficult times. He should be encountered or hanged at the earliest."

He said, "I believe 'Love Jihad' is spreading rapidly....and I also believe that no girl from a poor family should undergo this trauma."

While the BJP has echoed these sentiments, claiming it as evidence of the state's deteriorating law and order, the Congress has emphasised a personal dispute angle.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and Dharwad Lok Sabha BJP candidate Pralhad Joshi suspected that there was a love jihad angle behind the incident.

However, Home Minister G Parameshwara has earlier downplayed such assertions, mentioning the need for a thorough investigation before drawing conclusions.

“Neha and Fayaz where in love with each other. She rejected him later, he stabbed her fearing she might get married to someone else. So it’s not love jihad”, he said.

Also, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "The BJP is trying to threaten us... Karnataka has the best law and order... They want to tell voters that they're going to impose Governor's rule. That's what R Ashoka (BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition) is trying confidentially. They want to place the state under the Governor's rule, that's why they are doing all this drama."

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