Lucknow: Even as opposition protested the anti-conversion legislation, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the bill aiming to curb religious conversions done by fraudulent means, through voice vote.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2021 will replace the ordinance promulgated in November last year that has a provision of imprisonment for up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 for violators.
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The bill was passed in the House through voice votes even as Aradhana Misra, the Congress Legislative Party leader and Lalji Verma, the leader of BSP in the Assembly, protested it.
Under this bill, a marriage will be declared "null and void" if it is done for the purpose of religious conversion. Those wishing to change their religion after marriage will need to apply to the district magistrate.
According to it, no person shall convert, either directly or indirectly from one religion to another by use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage nor shall any person abet, convince or conspire such conversion.
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The onus to prove that there is no forceful conversion will lie on the person accused in the case and the convert.
As per this bill, an aggrieved person, his/her parents, brother, sister, or any other person who is related to him/her by blood, marriage or adoption may lodge an FIR about such an act of conversion.
BJP leaders had previously stated that this legislation aims to curb alleged attempts to convert Hindu women into Islam in the guise of marriage, which has been given the term of 'love jihad'.
(With Agency Inputs)