Karachi bride gets visa to wed Jodhpur groom, thanks to Sushma Swaraj

Kota, Oct 14: Wedding bells are ringing for Naresh Tekwani (27) of Jodhpur and Karachi's Priya Bachani despite the strained ties between their home nations.

Thanks to foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, Priya has got a visa from the Indian embassy in Pakistan, and will now be able to tie the knot with her fiancé on November 7.

Marriage preparations had come to a standstill as Bachani and her family had not been issued a visa despite applying for the same about three months before the wedding, a matter highlighted by Hindustan Times on October 4.

The Septmber 18 Uri attack by Pakistani terrorists and surgical strikes by Indian forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir days later has strained the relations between the two nations, putting the couple's plans in limbo.

Tekwani then tweeted the matter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swaraj, who responded saying, “Pl do not worry. We will issue the Visa(sic).”

“Wedding preparations have resumed after Priya's family got the visa,” said Shristhi Jhamnani, Priya's cousin who hails from Karachi and married Kota-based businessman Bharat Jhamnani in 2005.

Tekwani said 11 persons, including Priya, her parents, two brothers and their families got visas earlier this week.

However, he said 18 other guests had also applied for visas and are still waiting.

“I and my family have started shopping for the wedding after receiving the news,” he said and thanked Swaraj and others for helping get the visas.

Rajasthan, which shares a 1,000 km border with Pakistan, has witnessed several cross-border weddings.