Neelam Sharma, who is currently posted at the Indian mission in Moscow, is set to marry IAS officer Kuldeep Yadav in Delhi on November 8. Yadav, whom Sharma met during training, is currently Additional District Magistrate in Godhra.
Sharma reached New Delhi today and is expected to reach her home in Patranwali village tomorrow morning.
According to sources, tension has been brewing in the village over the past few days over her wedding plans. The Brahmin Sabha active in Bhiwani district held a meeting with the village panchayat on October 30, and issued directions to Sharma’s father Ram Kumar, a retired PWD employee, to restrain his daughter from marrying a man from another caste.
Rattled by the order, Sharma’s family approached the police for protection.
The police said security has been provided to the family. Inspector Mauji Ram, Station House Officer, Sadar Police Station, in whose jurisdiction the village is located, said, “The village panchayat and its members have been cautioned by the police.”
According to villagers, Sharma is an upper caste Brahmin, while Yadav — who hails from the Rewari district of Haryana — belongs to the Ahir community. The two met during training and later decided to get married, Sunil Shastri, who went to college with Sharma, told The Indian Express. “She belongs to a family of farmers. Till date her parents work in the fields. She is quite a balanced woman and knows what is best for her,” Shastri said.
“A few Brahmin Sabha activists have lodged their protest. But things appear to have settled down now. Still the family is worried, and is hoping that everything goes smoothly.”
Sharma’s brother Umesh Sharma was reluctant to talk. “The issue has been settled now. We have got police protection. I do not want to discuss anything further on this issue,” he said.
Village sarpanch Krishan Kumar said, “A few self-styled activists of the Brahmin Samaj held a meeting in the village school. But we are not with them. We in fact did not even allow them to reach Neelam’s residence. The village panchayat is with Neelam’sfamily.”