Punjab Newsline Network    Tuesday, 19 June 2007

AMRITSAR: Two Sikh girls of a border town of Punjab have repeated the history of two lesbian girls Raju and Mala of Amritsar, infamous for solemnizing Punjab's first lesbian marriage.

Baljit Kaur and Rajwinder Kaur of Batala town of Gurdaspur district have however became first Sikh girls of Punjab to perform the lesbian marriage

They on Tuesday came to Golden Temple here to seek blessings. They had no regrets and no worry of the social stigma on they will carry for rest of their life. “We do not care. We love each other and will die for each other'', they told media.

The Raju-Mala marriage had broken after few months when Mala fell in love with a boy few months after their marriage.

Baljit and Rajwinder are running for shelter since families of both of them are after their blood. They belonged to Jat Sikh families where honour killings are common. Interestingly, the female sex ratio in Punjab is falling over the years due to feticide and lesbian marriage has stirred anew controversy. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti has condemned lesbian marriages in Sikh religion.

Baljit appeared before the media dressed as boy with black goggles and Rajwinder, wearing salwar-kameez and `churrah' (wedding bangles) rubbed shoulders with her soul mate. They were frank to tell that both of them do not like boys. ``Boys are cheaters and we girls trust each other''.  They said that they had see a lot of the male dominated world and now want to live their own life. Baljit, 21, and Rajwinder, 20, are educated till 10+2 had eloped from home two week ago. ``We stayed at a friend's house at Morinda and then went to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir and Vaishno Devi where, after paying obeisance, we married with help of an Army officer Kuldeep Raj'', Baljit explained.

 ``We have demanded security as our family members have threatened to kill us'', said Baljit. She said that it was second time that she had fallen in love with a girl. The first love remained unsuccessful, she added. She said that they would soon approach court for security. Baljit said Rajwinder met at job placement office where later had come to search for the job. ``We are distant relatives also. When I saw her first I felt like touching her'', said Baljit.

When reminded of Akal Takht `Hukamnama' (edict) denouncing the single sex marriages, they said they do not care and just want the religious leaders and society to let them live together and live their life. ``We have visited Golden Temple and prayed to God for our well-being and successful marriage. They would like to adopt a child, if law permitted, they added.