In order to create an effective law to deal with forced religious conversions, the Madhya Pradesh Government has incorporated certain strict clauses in the proposed law against forced religious conversion. According to news, some of the additional clauses introduced to the legislation would include institutions such as madrassas, churches and colleges.
Pursuant to the new provisions, if an organisation is found to participate in or help love jihad (grooming jihad) or forced religious conversion, the government can withdraw the aid. Provisions have been added to protect situations where religious organisations are found to be indulging in cases of Grooming Jihad or forced conversion. The proposed Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to 1 lakh in case of conversion through marriage or by some other dishonest means.
Marriage celebrated exclusively for the purpose of religious conversion would be considered null and void under the new legislation. Religious Mass conversions will attract 5-10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh. Government officials told that a person willing to convert to another religion will have to file a declaration to the District Magistrate at least one month in advance after the proposed law has been enforced.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan officially held a meeting on 5 December to review the draught legislation. The Chief Minister said that the bill was part of Beti Bachao Abhiyan’s administration. “It’s really easy to mislead young girls with malicious intent. Later, their life becomes hell. Dharma Swatantrya Bill 2020 is our Beti Bachao Abhiyan”, he said.
The Pro-Tem Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Rameshwar Sharma said that the love jihad is creating communal disharmony, and the agencies engaged in the love jihad are trying to disrupt peace and develop Pakistan’s religious fanaticism. He said that those entities ought to be dealt with in compliance with the rules.
The Uttar Pradesh government recently implemented an anti-conversion law to deal with the danger of Grooming Jihad and forced religious conversion. Several cases have been reported as soon as the
