MP cabinet gives nod for Bill against 'love jihad'

Activists of human and civil rights organisations hold placards during a demonstration condemning the decision of BJP-led state governments for the proposed passing of laws against love jihad. PIC/AFP

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet on Saturday approved the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Bill-2020 to check the rising cases of love jihad in the state. The Bill will be introduced in the upcoming Assembly session, and once passed, will become a law. Under this law, there is a provision of awarding a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a penalty of R1 lakh for forceful conversion of any person under the pretext of marriage.

According to official information, in the cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister, the MP Religious Freedom Bill-2020, was passed by a voice vote. Strict provisions have been made in this law to prevent forceful religious conversions. According to this law, it is considered unlawful for any person to lure, threaten and indulge in forceful religious conversions.

State Home Minister Narottam Mishra said no person shall directly or otherwise attempt to convert or convert to another religion in the name of inducement, threat, force, influence, under the pretext of marriage or in any other fraudulent manner. No person would be able to indulge in abetment or conspire to carry out forceful religious conversions.

As per this Anti-Conversion law, a provision has been made that in violation of the prescribed provisions, a person would be punished with rigorous imprisonment of one to five years and pay a fine of Rs 25,000. At the same time, for the forceful religious conversion of a woman, minor, Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), a rigorous punishment ranging from two years up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 would be imposed on the accused. Along with this, there would be a fine of Rs 50,000 and a jail sentence of three to 10 years would be imposed for indulging in religious conversions secretly.

Words such as love jihad are not mentioned in the Anti-Conversion Bill. However, it has been decided that those voluntarily converting to other religions would have to give information to the District Magistrate 60 days in advance. Failure to provide the correct information would lead to a jail sentence of three to five years and a fine of Rs 50,000. The MP Religious Freedom Act, 1968 would be repealed as soon as the MP Religious Freedom Act, 2020 comes into effect.

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