Mumbai: Two BJP MLAs, Atul Bhatkhalkar and Sudhir Mungantiwar, have moved a private member’s bill—naming it Love Jihad Bill—seeking to address interfaith marriages. They asked that the bill be taken up for discussion during the ongoing House session.
BJP wants a law in Maharashtra similar to those enacted in UP, MP, Gujarat to address ‘love jihad’ cases.
Govt had last month established a special committee, led by the DGP and comprising six members of different departments, to address ‘love jihad’ and forced religious conversion complaints, study laws in other states, suggest legal frameworks, and recommend actions. The UP law, for instance, has a provision for 20-year jail or life term for conversion under threat or promise of marriage.
After formation of the panel, CM Devendra Fadnavis had said ‘love jihad’ incidents were “very serious and action must be taken”. “Even in a state like Maharashtra, we are seeing that such cases are increasing.”