Inter-caste marriage: IAS groom denies row, blames media hype

ROHTAK: After much hullabaloo in Bhiwani over the high profile inter-caste marriage of IFS officer Neelam Sharma with IAS officer Kuldeep Yadav, the groom told TOI that there never was any controversy about their marriage.

He said the bride's family has been particularly very hurt since "the media has blown the issue out of proportion." Meanwhile, residents of his village Baldhan Kalan in Rewari district were enthused about the wedding. The village sarpanch said they were eager to welcome the newly wed couple home after their marriage in Delhi on November 8.

• Talking to The Times of India over phone, Kuldeep Yadav, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer, said the media created a hype over the marriage which is disturbing, especially for the family of Neelam, a resident of Patrawali village of Bhiwani. "Everything is going smoothly and we are busy with preparations for the wedding ceremony, which will be held in Delhi on November 8. The media was blowing the issue out of proportion which hurt us both and Neelam's family in particular is upset with this".

Asked about objections by some people from Neelam's village, he said he would not like to comment on this at this moment and would be happy to discuss the issue with media on November 9 (a day after the marriage).

Sarpanch of Baldhan Kalan village, Nawal Kumar said that the entire village was happy over the marriage. Kumar said that a pre-wedding community feast has been organized by Kuldeep's family in the village on November 7, adding that there was no objection from anybody regarding the inter-caste status of the couple.

Obviously upset over media reports, Neelam's family is not willing to talk to mediapersons on the issue. Neelam's brother Pawan Sharma said they would invite family members and other villagers whom they expected to attend the wedding ceremony.

Sunil Shastri, a villager who is close to Neelam's family, said that he has been extended an invitation and would like to attend the ceremony. He however said that a section of villagers might not be happy over the inter-caste marriage but there was no opposition or threat to the family.

Head of Brahmin Sabha, Mahender Sharma clarified that community elders had objection over the decision of Neelam's family to marry her outside the caste, but there was no opposition to the marriage. "There has been no instance of an arranged marriage outside the caste though youngsters had solemnized love marriages. Community elders expressed their objection but there was no disapproval or threat to the marriage", he said.