A cross-border bond amid tension

Aman Sood & Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 9

Amid renewed cross-border tension after the Pulwama attack, an Indian man tied the knot with a Pakistani girl at an SGPC-run gurdwara in Patiala on Saturday. Parvinder Singh (33), a resident of Tepla village in Ambala (Haryana), married Kiran Sarjeet (27), his aunt’s relative, of Sialkot at Khel Sahib Gurdwara here.

The duo were engaged in 2016 when Kiran had come to her maternal uncle’s house in Samana, Patiala.

“We don’t see each other as an Indian or a Pakistani. Discriminating against someone based on nationality is like differentiating on the basis of caste, creed and race – things that a person acquires not by choice,” says Parvinder, a telecom operator.

Initially, he had planned to go to Pakistan to marry Kiran, but he was denied visa. It was after the authorities approved visa of 45 days for Patiala for the bride’s family that they decided to solemnise the marriage here.

As the Indian Embassy in Pakistan gave her visa only for Patiala, the couple will stay at Samana for the time being. Residents of the groom’s village have requested the authorities to allow Kiran to go to Ambala.

Parvinder said, “I hope our marriage sends out a message of love to both countries. Our elders in the family have played a big role in ensuring the marriage.”

The girl’s father, Sarjeet Singh Cheema, said, “People from both nations have deep-rooted relations and this marriage will further strengthen our ties.”

Jarnail Singh Kartarpur, executive member, SGPC, blamed politicians for raising tensions between the two countries.