Cong., CPM criticise hotel that denied room to interfaith couple

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 5 (ANI): The reported incident where a Bengaluru hotel denied an interfaith couple entry has invited the wrath of political parties, particularly the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Congress. CPM leader Brinda Karat said that an immediate notice should be sent to the hotel. "Communal thinking has invaded many spaces in India and this is a direct inflation of this so-called 'love jihadi' ideology and mentality which says that Hindu and Muslim interfaith couples cannot and should not be recognised," she added. Shobha Oza, the president of All India Mahila Congress, said that instead of moving forward in this 21st century, Indians are walking back towards the 19th century. She further said, "It's really sad that the whole nation, it seems, is moving towards communalism." "The incident is very sad and in my opinion, their license should be immediately cancelled, because spreading this feeling of communalism is somewhere breaking the nation," she added. "Our society, our constitution ensures equal right to citizens of all faith. No hotel, no school and no place can deny it to any citizen just because of faith and such incidents should not be repeated in any part of the country," she concluded. Earlier in the day, it was reported that a married couple was denied a room at a Bengaluru hotel, after which the hotel came up with a justification, claiming that religion had nothing to with denying of the room. The couple had come to Bengaluru on the context of the woman's interview. The husband, a Muslim while the wife, a Hindu were denied a room at the Olive residency, on alleged religious grounds. According to the couple, they were told it is not acceptable that a Hindu and a Muslim stay together. Upon this allegation, the owner of the hotel Shivu, said, "One couple came here and they wanted a room. Initially, they only asked the room for half an hour. The cashier refused. They then said they will take it for one day. But they didn't have luggage or proper id cards so they were refused." He also said that this has nothing to do with religious beliefs, as most of his customers are Muslims. (ANI)