MP: 'Love Jihad' To Be Non-Bailable Offence With 5-Year Jail; Punishment Also For Those Assisting In Crime | What The New Proposal States

The MP government is proposing a new law against 'Love Jihad'. According to Home Minister Narottam Mishra, culprits will face 5 yrs of ‘rigorous imprisonment’.

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New Delhi: On Tuesday Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra announced that the MP government will propose a new law against ‘Love Jihad’. It'll provide for 5 yrs of ‘rigorous imprisonment’ to the culprits. Narottam Mishra announced that in the next assembly session the MP government will introduce a new law against ‘Love Jihad’ which will make marriages provision to declare marriages taking place forcefully, out of fraud or by tempting someone, for religious conversion, null and void. According to ANI, Narottam Mishra said “We’re making preparations to introduce Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2020 in Assembly. It'll provide for 5 yrs of rigorous imprisonment. We're also proposing that such crimes be declared a cognizable & non-bailable offense.” “Under this, the person who has been converted, their parents/siblings will have to mandatorily file a complaint for action. A religious leader who is converting the person will have to inform District Magistrate one month in advance. We'll introduce this Bill in the next session” “There will be provision to declare marriages taking place forcefully, out of fraud or by tempting someone, for religious conversion, null and void. Those assisting in committing this crime will also be considered a party to the crime.” After cases such as the shooting of 21-year-old Nikita by a man named Touseef who was pressurizing her to convert to Islam, there have been calls for laws against Love Jihad. Last month, Yogi Adityanath had said that the state government will bring a law to curb love jihad. "The Allahabad HC has said that religious conversion isn’t necessary for marriage. The government will also work to curb ‘love jihad’ and we will make law. I warn those who conceal identity and disrespect our women that if you don’t mend your ways, your ‘Ram naam satya’ (chants during funeral) journey will begin," Adityanath said according to a DNA report. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij have also shown their keenness for implementing a law against Love Jihad.