UP plans a strict law to deal with the religious conversion of women in the name of marriage
Lucknow:
The Uttar Pradesh Department of the Interior has submitted a proposal to the state’s Ministry of Legal Affairs for a strict law to address the alleged religious conversion of women in the name of marriage, which BJP leaders refer to as “love jihad”.
The development follows an announcement by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during recent election rallies that his government would present a law to deal with “love jihad”.
A strict bill against “love jihad” it has been sent to the Legal Department, a government spokesman confirmed Friday.
Emphasizing the need for a strict law to address “love jihad”UP Law Minister Brijesh Pathak told the Press Trust of India news agency on Friday that “there has been an increase in these cases in the state which have caused social discord and enmity. These incidents are also getting a bad name. to the state and, therefore, a strict law is the necessity of the moment. “
“We will do whatever is necessary as soon as we receive a proposal from the Department of the Interior, as we have made all the necessary preparations,” Pathak said.
Addressing the by-election rallies in Jaunpur and Deoria on October 31, the chief minister, Adityanath, had said that his government would pass a law to address “love jihad” and had used the Hindu funeral chant. “Ram Naam Satya Hai” to threaten those who do not respect their daughters and sisters.
Welcoming the Allahabad High Court ruling that conversion for the sole purpose of marrying is invalid, the prime minister had also said that posters of those involved in “love jihad”, a derogatory currency that would be refers to the alleged Muslim campaign forcing Hindu girls to convert under the guise of love.
We will bring a law in force. It is my warning to those who play with the honor and dignity of sisters and daughters by concealing their real names and identities. If you don’t mend your ways, your ‘Ram Naam Satya’ The journey will begin, “Yogi Adityanath had said.
The Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission had submitted a report last year suggesting a new law to control forced religious conversions.
“The commission is of the opinion that the existing legal provisions are not sufficient to control religious conversion and, in this serious matter, a new law is needed as in some other states,” the report said.
The report was introduced by the Law Commission alongside the bill, the Uttar Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2019.
In Kanpur, according to officials, the police had previously established a Special Investigation Team to investigate reports of “love jihad”.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
.
