Image source: TOI
As the number of Love Jihad cases are on the rise, the Gujarat government led by Chief Minister M Vijay Rupani has proposed to amend the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003.
Under this amendment, more stringent punishment will be given against forced religious conversions through marriage, with the guilty facing a jail term of up to seven years along with a penalty.
The proposed Gujarat ‘love jihad’ law comes after Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh also introduced similar provisions. The amendment bill that was submitted in the Gujarat assembly on Tuesday (30 March) seeks to prohibit and punish religious conversions promising a better lifestyle, divine blessings and impersonation.
As per reports, the Love Jihad bill is likely to be tabled in the ongoing Budget session of the Gujarat assembly. The new ‘love jihad’ law would invite a jail term of five years and a ₹2 lakh penalty on the forced conversion of young women. The punishment would go up to seven years in jail and a ₹3 lakh penalty, in case of a minor girl being converted. Some important features of this bill include the fact that anyone who promises a “better lifestyle, divine blessings, or otherwise” as reasons for religious conversion could be booked under this bill. In addition to this, under the new section 3A that has been proposed, a relative of the victim, related by blood, marriage or adoption, can file an FIR for having committed this crime under the new bill.
It must also be noted that it was the Catholic Church in Kerala who had first raised concern against the growing menace of Love Jihad and such laws cannot be deemed as communal as both Hindus and Christian women and families have been victims.
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