'Love-jihad' controversy being used as political tool: Atul Anjan

Asserting that the article published on 'love jihad' in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece 'panchajanya' can incite communal violence in the nation, Communist Party of India leader Atul Anjan on Monday said this issue is being used as a political tool.

"Former union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, Sikander Bakht, had a Hindu wife, was it 'love-jihad'? Why didn't the RSS mouthpiece talk about 'love-jihad' then? 'Love-jihad' is being used as a political tool," Anjan said while citing several other examples.

"The article published in the RSS mouthpiece can incite communal violence in the nation," he added.

Anjan further said the focus should now be on inflation, which is hurting the country's economy.

"The main problem that the country is facing is of inflation and what has the government done about it in these 100 odd days," he said.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra speaking on the same issue said the local problems should be solved by the local leaders in a democratic way.

"That is what the BJP leaders in Uttar Pradesh are doing," he added.

The 'love jihad' issue had earlier made headlines when national shooter Tara Sahdev alleged that she was tortured and forced to convert her religion by her husband.

Sahdev's alleged case of 'love jihad' had resulted in an enormous uproar in Jharkhand. Her husband Ranjit Ranjit Singh Kohli alias Rakibul Hassan was arrested and sent to 14 days judicial custody.