VHP morphs Kareena's picture in mag

New Delhi: The controversy surrounding "Love Jihad" refuses to die down as the latest issue of a Vishva Hindu Parishad(VHP) magazine "Himalaya Dhwani" has brought up the subject on its cover using a morphed face of actor Kareena Kapoor half covered with a 'burqa'.

The pictures of Kapoor, who married actor Saif Ali Khan, has gone viral with many raising eyebrows over the raging row over religious conversions and reconversions and demanding action against the magazine.

VHP, however, has claimed that the magazine brought out by its Himachal unit is for internal circulation and has tried to highlight the issue as also religious conversions in Himachal Pradesh.

Congress criticised the use of Kareena's picture, saying it is a assault on her privacy and sought action against the magazine.

The magazine's cover story also reads, "Dharmantaran se rashtraantaran" meaning "change of religion leads to change of nation" in the cover article that has highlighted the issue of religious conversions of Hindu women addressed as 'love jihad'.

Rajni Thukral, one of the magazine editors, who is also the coordinator of Durga Vahini, the women's youth wing of VHP for the region, has defended the article and Kapoor's picture.

"The issue of 'Love Jihad' started in the country some 12 to 15 years ago and there have been 4,000 cases registered on how Muslim boys have allegedly enticed Hindu girls in love and later treated them badly.

In Himachal, such incidents have happened and 16 such cases have come to light last year. We have tried to highlight the issue to create public awareness," she said.

Defending the use of Kareena's morphed picture and her case to highlight the issue, she said, "Kareena is an icon and role model. Youth try to emulate and follow her."

Thukral questioned if they are in love, why did she have to convert and why Saif did not convert to a Hindu.