Thumbs up from social, religious bodies; BJP divided on the party

TNN Bureau. Updated: 2/23/2017 1:58:02 AM Front Page

JAMMU: The government's sudden yet bold step of strictly regulating the wedding parties has though received thumbs up from various social and religious organisations but the Peoples Democratic Party's ruling ally Bhartiya Janta Party is vertically split on the issue.
Interestingly, two top religious leaders, spoken separately, have said exactly the same thing on Guest Control Order: "this out to have been the moral responsibility of the religious, social and cultural organisations but it is welcome that government has stepped in to regulate weddings for austerity". This is a nearly exact translation of the statements of Vishva Hindu Parishad patron Rama Kant Dubey and Srinagar's Jamia Masjid's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (who is also a Hurriyat leader). The announcement of the executive order to regulate wedding parties was made Tuesday by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Choudhary Zulfkar Ali, who belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party. Sharply reacting to Choudhary's sudden announcement, the state president of BJP Sat Sharma said that the order is interference in the religious affairs and he has strong objections to it. However, everyone in Sat Sharma's BJP is not on the same page.
BJP's MLA from RS Pura, Gagan Bhagat welcomes the government decision to curtail the number of guests. On the implementation of this government order, Bhagat says, 'there are some social and religious implications which needed proper legislation for this sensitive issue'. He even advocated that guests from groom side should be curtailed to 10 members. But being a part of society, this issue need a holistic view to implement in true spirit, said the BJP MLA.
Devender Manyal, another BJP MLA, also welcomed the step and said it would be helpful for down trodden and economically weaker sections. "People used to spent huge money for receptions, but by curtailing the guests, one can spent these money for poor girls for their weddings", he said. "In my constituency many down trodden people often approach me for financial assistance to help them arrange marriages, particularly of daughters", he said.
BJP's MLA from Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta has also spoken loudly in favour of the restrictions announced by the Minister. At a social gathering he said those people can feel more strongly about the restrictions who have daughters.
MLC Ramesh Arora is not entirely opposed to the order but he critical of the process it is put for implementation. He said, "an order of such ramifications can't be enforced without any proper legislation". "It's a social problem which needs to be settled through discussion in society and by including views from ruling and opposition parties", said Arora.
"The order has good and bad points which need discussion in the society", said RS Pathania, BJP MLA from Ramnagar.
Talking to The News Now, VHP state patron, Ramakant Dubey highly praised the government and urged upon the social and religious organization to "come and support the government in its noble cause". He also lamented that it should have been the religious cum social organizations' moral duties to set such rules and guidelines in their respective sects.
"Lavish parties are thrown on the name of marriages. Highly influential persons have no problem with it, but it is the middle class section which is facing the heat of the costly celebrations. They are forced to organize grand celebrations by taking loans from banks, friends or relatives and thus are going deep and deep in debt", he opined.
Sikh organizations have also welcomed the order terming it the need of the society. Nojwan Sabha's (youth wing) of various Sikh localities have demanded strict enforcement of the new rules and said that the violators should be booked under the law without any discrimination of class, sect or status in the society.
Pawandeep Singh, senior member, Sikh Missionary Circle (SMC), Jammu wing said that such steps are the need of hour in order to save society from the lavish and unnecessary extravaganzas.
"Sikh Gurus have always advocated simplicity in every aspect of life especially during the ceremonial functions. They know that one day lavishness and show-off will increase to such level that it will affect not only the two families, but also the whole society as well", Pawanadeep Singh.
While lambasting the BJP-PDP coalition government, president Shiv Sena (AG) & Dogra Front, Ashok Gupta alleged that through such decisions government is trying to divert the public's attention from the genuine issues and woes.


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