'Love Jihad' issue is bid to create tension before polls: CM

Hitting out at the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said here today that the issue of "love jihad" is a deliberate attempt to create religious tension and facilitate electoral success.
When asked about Shiv Sena backing Swami Adityanath's comments and description of "love jihad" as part of a global conspiracy to destroy Hindu culture, Chavan said attempts are being made by the opposition to use their "success formula" of creating religious divide just before the elections.
"Without creating social and religious tension, opposition parties have never won elections. Once again, they are trying out their time-tested formula and it is a cause of worry," Chavan said.

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana also cited RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement that Hindu girls should beware of "love jihad", an alleged phenomenon, where Muslim men marry Hindu women in order to convert them.
"Deliberate attempts are being made to create a rift in society. The people of Maharashtra will not fall prey to this gameplan," Chavan said.
Referring to the BJP's meeting with minorities tomorrow which would be attended by Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah and senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Chavan described it as a "Track 2 policy" to create religious tension and also simultaneously hold meetings with minorities to woo them.

He admitted that the civil aviation ministry had written to him requesting that steps be taken to rehabilitate slums surrounding the Mumbai airport.
However, he refused to comment if security issues were mentioned.
"Mumbai airport is surrounded by slums and it is not a healthy thing," he said.