Hubballi, Jun 1 (UNI) Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik has claimed that “every girl now carries a trishul in her bag” as a symbolic measure to resist what he described as Love Jihad—a term used by some groups to allege coercive interfaith relationships leading to religious conversion.
Speaking at an event in Hubballi marking the first anniversary of the helpline Sahaya Vani, Muthalik said the service had received 6,158 calls over the past year, involving cases where young women were allegedly being misled or coerced in the name of love. “We have been able to intervene in 93 per cent of these cases and prevent the girls from falling into such traps,” he told reporters in a press meet.
Muthalik also alleged that some of the cases involved attempt to impose different cultural and religious practices on the women. “They were forced to wear the burkha, prohibited from worshipping their family deities, and even made to consume beef against their customs,” he alleged.
“Our teams have worked day and night to support affected families. This helpline has become a success,” he added.
Issuing a warning to those allegedly involved in such activities, Muthalik said, “We have now given a clear message. Every girl carries a trishul in her bag. If anyone attempts Love Jihad, the answer will come from that very trishul.”
He also called upon all social and religious organisations to extend full support—“in body, mind, and resources”—to protect young women and raise awareness. Muthalik said leaders from various castes and communities were present at the event and had expressed solidarity with the initiative.
The term Love Jihad remains controversial and is not legally defined. While some right-wing groups claim it is part of a larger conspiracy, investigations by central agencies have found no evidence of any organised network involved in religious conversions through romantic relationships.
Muthalik’s remarks are expected to draw sharp reactions from civil society organisations and political parties, which have often cautioned against statements that could inflame social tensions. UNI BDN SSP