A viral video from the Mahakumbh turned 16-year-old Monalisa Bhosle into an overnight sensation, but her recent marriage has now ignited a political firestorm in Kerala. BJP leaders are baying for blood, accusing CPI(M) heavyweights of shielding an illegal child marriage under the guise of secularism.
‘This reeks of a larger conspiracy,’ thundered BJP’s S. Suresh, questioning the role of party bigwigs at the event. He named M.V. Govindan, V. Sivankutty, and A.A. Rahim, demanding their prosecution for abetting the crime.
Fuel to the fire came from the NCST report verifying Monalisa’s minority. MP police lost no time filing POCSO charges against Firoz Khan, the 25-year-old groom. Officials hint at forgery in age documents and invoke atrocities act provisions against perpetrators.
The wedding unfolded on March 11 at a temple outskirts of the capital, with hospital birth records from 2009 sealing the minor status. BJP insists all facilitators face the law for bypassing verification protocols.
NCST has escalated matters by calling in top cops from both states to Delhi. CPI(M) counters that their leaders were mere invitees who showed up post-invitation.
This high-stakes clash underscores deepening rifts between BJP and Left in Kerala, with legal battles looming large. As investigations unfold, the case challenges claims of progressive governance and child protection in the state, promising prolonged courtroom drama and electoral repercussions.
