Interfaith couples turned away from hotels in Uttarakhand

India Oct 19, 2025

Hotels in Dehradun are now refusing rooms to interfaith couples, blaming vague "orders from above" and the threat of raids by vigilante groups like Bajrang Dal.
In Nainital, some hotels are charging significantly higher prices for these couples, making travel tougher and more expensive.

Activists say anti-conversion law, 'love jihad' talk behind trend

Turning away interfaith couples goes against Article 15(2) of the Indian Constitution, which protects everyone's right to access public spaces without discrimination.
Activists say Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, recently amended in August 2025 and heated political talk about "love jihad" have fueled this trend, putting personal freedoms at risk and making the state less welcoming for visitors.