The allegedly sinister conspiracy was ‘unearthed’ after a couple of parents of educated girls sought the help of the judicial system to obtain their custody. The girls from Hindu and Christian families were well into adulthood and had chosen their Muslim boyfriends as life partners. The affluent or middle-class parents apprehended that their daughters were ruining their lives while also demolishing 'traditional family honour'. The hype fuelled by rumours has led many orthodox groups to genuinely suspect existence of a planned strategy to destroy their socio-religious identity. A well-funded network with lots of gulf money in its coffers was said to be sponsoring Muslim youths to rob them of their most cherished property - womenfolk!

Yes, women are still viewed as cherished 'property' by most 'elite' members of India. There is not much difference between the 21st century and the age of Ramayana, the decree if the Ten Commandments or when invaders from Persia and Arabia were entitled to appropriate whole harems of the humbled local kings and take away the 'legitimate' queens and princesses as well.

The media, marked by a cut-throat competition to grab eyeballs and ad revenue through it, blew up the incidents – some real and some imaginary – into a giant humanitarian issue. How a band of Muslim youth, engaged by oil-rich Arab Sheikhs, was luring women with promises and expensive gifts became the talk of the town. The sole purpose of raining love and gifts, according to the vigilantes, was to convert them into Islam. For a time, every woman leaving her house in a huff was projected as another prize catch of the Love Jihad brigade. It continued blissfully till the police nabbed a serial killer who tricked dozens of ambitious brides-to-be by posing as a tycoon based abroad. Incidentally, this Romeo was not a Muslim.

Senior members of the media fraternity have castigated the adventurous elements in their tribe for being reckless in covering the rumours and farcical court proceedings sensationally. Such sort of 'self regulation' is of course a welcome phenomenon. But, it is unfair to squarely put all the blame on the ‘irresponsible journalists’ alone. After all, the media did not imagine or cultivate the shameful medieval mindset that led to the shameful ruckus. It was only bringing out the perverted attitudes prevalent among the ‘elite’ classes. In fact, that precisely is the job of the media, not hushing up. On another note, however, the media must take the blame for the failure to bring to the surface the real culprits in the matter.

The lion’s share of the blame for the mischievous propaganda that has the potential to incite communal riots must go to 'honourable judges' of Kerala and Karnataka. Let us suppose, for a moment, that a 'jihad' or 'dharma yudh' is being waged in an organised fashion with the aim of influencing minds by employing love as a weapon. Why is it a "matter (that) needs to be further probed" as honourable judges have decreed? In any civilised society, only intimidation, torture or violence for getting someone converted or reconverted can be a matter of concern. Love, care or nourishment to influence someone can never be taboo! Even in cases when some people resort to violence to demand equity, the enlightened approach, it is now recognised, is not unleashing retaliatory violence.

Of course, there is a need for utmost caution on the part of the youth before taking the big plunge. They are better advised to objectively weigh pros and cons of teaming up with someone for life at the risk of alienation from current environment. It is particularly the girls who are at greater peril and must guard against flirts who abound. A casual approach can bring misery to scores of members of two families.

However, it is the job of family seniors and community elders to create awareness about pitfalls of immature infatuation in the guise of sacred love. Let us assume for a moment that the boys were worst frauds, fiends and Casanovas. But, it is not for the judiciary to turn into guardians of morality.