Love Jihad Law: Strict Legislation In UP Soon, Says Home Department; Know What Other States Are Planning

“A strict law against 'Love Jihad' will soon be brought in the state. Home Department has sent a proposal to the Department of Law,” Home Department has stated.

Representational Image/ An Indian Hindu holds a placard as she takes part in a rally against 'Love Jihad', in Ahmedabad on July 22, 2018. - 'Love Jihad' is a term used to describe alleged campaigns under which Muslim men target women belonging to non-Muslim communities for conversion to Islam by feigning love. (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY / AFP)

Love Jihad: Uttar Pradesh looks all set to bring out a strict legislation against Love Jihad cases going rampant in the state. The Home Department of the states has sent a proposal to the Department of Law in this regard on Friday. “A strict law against 'Love Jihad' will soon be brought in the state. Home Department has sent a proposal to the Department of Law,” Home Department has stated. Sources have revealed that the new proposal has the provision of 5-7 years of imprisonment against those found guilty. Last month, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced that his government would come out with a law to deal with ‘love jihad’ and used the Hindu funeral chant ‘Ram Naam Satya Hai’ to threaten those who don’t respect their daughters and sisters. The chief minister also said posters would be put up of those involved in ‘love jihad’ Allahabad High Court had declared that conversion for the sole purpose of marriage is not vali. Love Jihad is a derogatory coinage referring to the alleged campaign of Muslims forcing Hindu girls to convert in the guise of love. Not only Uttar Pradesh, there has been a surged remonstration against Love Jihad incidents in several Indian states, most of which were triggered after the Nikita Tomar shooting case of Faridabad. Bihar: On Thursday, Union minister Giriraj Singh demanded a law against love jihad in Bihar. Talking to reporters in Begusarai, Giriraj Singh said that some states are bringing a law to stop love jihad, but a legislation to stop love jihad should be implemented in the whole country. He said government should strictly act on love jihad, keeping in mind the present scenario. Haryana:  A committee will be setup to draft a "strict" law against "love jihad", Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said on Tuesday. He also said that Haryana will study the laws made by other states in this regard. "A strict law will be enacted against 'love jihad' in the state. A committee will be constituted to draft this law," said Vij, who chaired the meeting with senior officials of the home department, according to an official statement issued here. Himachal Pradesh: The Himachal Pradesh assembly had last year passed a bill against conversion by force, inducement or through marriages solemnised for the "sole purpose" of adopting a new religion. Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh government is planning to introduce Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020 in the next session of the state Assembly in view of the rising incidents of "love jihad", state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said.  The bill proposes a rigorous imprisonment for the period of five years for luring a person through fraud and forcing marriage by religious conversion, he told reporters and added that such offence will be non-bailable.