Those plotting ‘love jihad’ will be destroyed, warns Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday (December 3) issued another warning to those “plotting love jihad” and said they will be “destroyed”.

“Government belongs to everyone, all religions and castes. There is no discrimination but if someone tries to do anything disgusting with our daughters, then I’ll break you. If someone plots religious conversion or does anything like ‘love jihad’, you will be destroyed,” Chouhan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Last month, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh said it was 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”.

Related News: UP Governor approves ordinance, ‘love jihad’ law effective

The bill proposes a rigorous imprisonment for a 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.

Other (proposed) provisions include making it mandatory for kin of the person being forced to convert to other faith for the purpose of marriage to file a complaint.

“The Madhya Pradesh government is working on bringing ”Dharma Swatantrya Bill” 2020 in the state assembly with a provision for a five-year rigorous imprisonment for luring a person through fraud and forcing marriage by religious conversion by making it a cognisable and non-bailable offence. Such incidents are on the rise, which you call ‘love jihad’,” state Home Minister Narottam Mishra had said.

Related News: ‘Love jihad’: A theory which wilts under legal scrutiny

The Uttar Pradesh government on November 24 approved the ordinance to deal with religious conversion for the sake of marriage, which could land violators in jail for up to 10 years.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on November 28 gave assent to an ordinance against forcible or “dishonest” religious conversions.

Meanwhile, two PILs have been filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the laws of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to deal with religious conversion for the sake of marriage.

The first PIL filed by Vishal Thakre, Abhay Singh Yadav and Pranvesh sought direction for declaring the laws as ultra vires and null and void as they disturb the basic structure of the Constitution.

They have used the term “love jihad” in the petition to challenge the laws that deal with religious conversion for the sake of marriage.

The laws passed by the two states are against the Public Policy and society at large, the plea said.

The second PIL has been filed by advocate Neeraj Shukla against the law “Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion ordinance, 2020”, passed by Uttar Pradesh.

(With inputs from PTI)