The BJP has expelled its Ladakh unit vice-president, Nazir Ahmed, weeks after his son married a woman from the Buddhist community and the couple eloped. The party said the incident is deemed “unacceptable” by all religious communities in the Union Territory, as it “jeopardises communal harmony and unity” among people.

Nazir’s son, Manzoor Ahmed, 39, worked with a travel agency in Leh. His wife is said to be working with a private firm in Delhi.

Local BJP leaders said the woman’s family is yet to lodge a police complaint. Murup, councillor of Lama Youru, said, “We had approached Nazir Ahmed to lodge an FIR in the matter but he did not respond.”

A “shocked” Nazir, 74, said he was on Haj with his wife “for the last 40 days”, and that they learnt Manzoor had married a Buddhist woman after reaching Srinagar on July 20 on their way back to Leh.

When contacted, BJP’s Ladakh unit president Phunchok Stanzin said action was taken against Nazir in view of the “mounting tension” in Ladakh. He said there has been no protest yet since the Dalai Lama has been in Ladakh since July 10, but he apprehends protests once he leaves on August 25.

In a statement dated August 16, BJP’s Ladakh unit said the decision to expel Nazir was taken at a meeting of the party executive chaired by Stanzin. It said Nazir was given “ample time’’ and “provided an opportunity to explain his involvement in a sensitive issue of the elopement of a Buddhist girl by his son…”

Failing to get a suitable reply from him, the statement said, “a decision has been reached to promptly relieve Nazir Ahmed of his responsibilities as [BJP’s Ladakh unit] vice-president and revoke his primary membership [of party] with immediate effect.”

Confirming that he was called by the party executive committee after he returned home in Leh on July 27 and was asked to look for his son, Nazir said he could not find Manzoor in either Leh or Kargil or Drass. “I contacted the travel agency where he worked (in Leh) but they expressed helplessness,” Nazir said.

Specifying that he has received indication that Manzoor could be in Delhi, Nazir said is now planning to leave for the national capital. Stating that he fails to understand the reason behind his expulsion when his family was against Mazoor’s decision to marry the woman, Nazir said, “I have informed the party that they can do whatever they desire, but I will remain a BJP loyalist.”