Mumbai: Maharashtra could soon join the list of states with laws against forced religious conversions and “love jihad” as the state government has set up a panel to explore potential legislation on the matter.
A government resolution issued on Friday stated that the seven-member committee, led by the Director General of Police, will study existing laws in other states and recommend steps to curb forced conversions. The panel includes officials from the Women and Child Welfare, Minority Affairs, Law and Judiciary, Social Justice, Special Assistance, and Home departments.
“Love jihad” is a term used by some to allege a conspiracy in which Muslim men lure Hindu women into marriage with the intention of converting them to Islam.
Maharashtra Minister and senior BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for taking steps to address the issue. “Love jihad is a serious concern, and the state government is working towards preventing such incidents. This committee will focus on protecting women and preserving cultural values,” Lodha was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Lodha also recalled his tenure as the Women and Child Development Minister in the previous government, during which he established the Interfaith Marriage Coordination Committee to investigate such cases. He cited incidents like the killings of Shraddha Walkar, Rupali Chandanshive, Poonam Kshirsagar, Yashashree Shinde, and Sonam Shukla as examples of the issue.
However, opposition leader and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Working President Supriya Sule criticized the government’s focus, arguing that economic challenges should take precedence. “The government should prioritize economic issues over interfering in personal matters like love and marriage. If the economy is impacted, the entire country will suffer,” she said.
Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, have already enacted laws addressing forced conversions. Last year, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which includes provisions for imprisonment of up to 20 years or life in cases where conversion occurred under coercion or false promises of marriage.
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