The father of Monalisa Bhonsle, the young woman who became a household name during last year’s Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, has appealed to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to intervene following her marriage to a Muslim man in Kerala. Monalisa, an 18-year-old from the nomadic Pardhi community in Maheshwar, wed Farman Khan on Wednesday at the Nainar Temple in Poovar— a ceremony reportedly attended by several Kerala ministers.
Speaking to reporters upon his return from the southern state, Jayasingh Bhonsle alleged that his daughter had fallen victim to "love jihad". He claimed she had been "trapped deceitfully" by Khan under the guise of launching a career in the film industry. "My daughter has earned a name across the country," Jayasingh said on Friday. "I request the Chief Minister to ensure she is brought back to Madhya Pradesh safely.
"The father admitted he was aware of her aspirations to act and believed she was being trained in dance and drama for future film roles. "I was told she was acting in two films and that people were teaching her the trade. I had no idea something like this would happen," he added. His concerns have been echoed by local functionaries of the Hindu Jagran Manch, who have vowed to "persuade" the teenager to return home.
However, Monalisa has told a very different story. Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, she stood by her decision, insisting the marriage was her own choice and had been conducted according to Hindu customs. Since Monalisa was the eldest among the four siblings, she flatly denied the charges of "love jihad" by stating that the reason for the rift with her father was that she was not ready to marry the son of her paternal aunt. However, the fact of the matter is that the state government is now left with a dilemma because of the resolve shown by Monalisa.
Also read: ₹1,000-cr for Haridwar Kumbh in state budget
Follow us
