Love Jihad: ‘Men Must Declare Their Religion, Job And Income Before Marrying,’ Says Assam Minister Himanta Biswas

Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that men must declare religion, job, and income to their partners before marrying.

Image (Twitter/ Himanta Biswa Sarma)

New Delhi: Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma joins the league of ministers speaking against alleged ‘love-jihad’. On Monday Biswas said that men must declare their religion, job, and income to their partners before marrying. The BJP leader also said that the state has begun drafting legislation which will become mandatory for all marriages. He added that the bill will empower women. "One should not get married if there's no transparency between husband-wife. Disclosure is important like my religion, what I do for a living, what's my income. Not saying that you should disclosure only your religion, you should also disclose your income and job," said Himanta Biswa Sarma according to ANI.

One shouldn't get married if there's no transparency b/w husband-wife. Disclosure's important-my religion, what I do for living, what's my income. Not saying that you should disclosure only your religion, you should also disclose your income & job: Assam Minister HB Sarma (30.11) pic.twitter.com/25xW6br4Vy

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2020

ALSO READ|PM Modi Witnesses Grand Celebrations Of 'Dev Deepawali' In Varanasi| Key Highlights Of His Visit To The Land Of Temples Sarma said that what the government is proposing is not something about 'love jihad' but it would be mandatory for all religions. "Our idea is not the so-called 'Love Jihad'. My idea is that you shouldn't hide your identity, job, or income. Assam is going to do something which won't be against any religion. It'll have transparency in marriage. We've started drafting legislation," said Sarma. The term “Love Jihad” is mostly used by the right-wing activists, according to which Muslim men marry Hindu women and later force them to embrace Islam. While, the term is trending these days, but neither the court nor the Union government officially recognizes the term. Recently Uttar Pradesh passed an ordinance against 'Love-Jihad' which has provision for 5-10 years imprisonment.  The Yogi Adityanath led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh passed the order on November 24, almost a month after the CM pledged to end “Love Jihad”. After UP, Shivraj Singh Chouhan Led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has also drawn up a bill to punish ‘Love Jihad’ with a 10-year imprisonment for inter-faith couples who are marrying with the intention to religiously convert. According to Madhya Pradesh, Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that the Dharm Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill, 2020, would be tabled in the state Assembly during the session beginning from December 28.