Karnataka:On Sunday, The  Mandya girl Aashitha and boyfriend Mohammed Shakeel Ahamed, exchanged vows in a ceremony the boy's father explained as a source of admiration for youngsters in love.

Mukthar Ahamed said, “they were confused when they learnt Shakeel was in love with Ashitha, daughter of Dr Narendra Babu, a family friend of decades. "Our children wanted to get married, so we did not have any problem with the inter-faith marriage,"

He further added, "There is no such thing as rich, poor, dalit or Muslim. Everybody should live happily and support such young couples who want to live beyond religion."

"We told Bajrang Dal activists it is not love jihad, but a marriage between children of two friends. But they were not ready to listen to us” said Dr Babu