Madhya Pradesh govt approves 'Love Jihad' law 2020; forced conversion will invite 10-year-jail term, penalty

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet on Saturday approved 'love jihad' law or the MP Freedom of Religion Bill 2020 in a special meeting chaired by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "Under new Bill, forcing religious conversion on someone will attract 1-5 yrs of imprisonment & a minimum Rs 25,000 fine," said Narottam Mishra, State Minister. 

Mishra further said, “Under the new MP Freedom of Religion Bill 2020, forced conversion of a minor, woman or a person from Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, would draw a minimum jail term of 2-10 years with a minimum penalty of Rs 50,000.”

After the approval by the cabinet, the bill will now be presented in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly for final passage.

"This bill will replace the Religious Freedom Act of 1968 (after the approval by the state Assembly)," Mishra said.

Any marriage solemnized only for the purpose of converting a person will be considered null and void under the provisions of this proposed legislation, he said.

A provision is also being made that those willing to convert need to apply before the district administration two months prior, Mishra said.

Many incidents came to light where minor girls were converted, married & made to contest Panchayat polls. Under the proposed law, no person in Madhya Pradesh will be able to convert anyone directly or otherwise through marriage or by any other fraudulent means by luring or intimidating anyone, officials have said, quoting the chief minister.

A person involved in converting another person by misleading, luring, threatening or through marriage will be prosecuted.

The sentence will be up to 10 years in the cases of religious conversion of minors, groups, or of those belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Blood relatives, including parents of victims of such religious conversion, can file complaint, the official said.

We won't allow forced conversions in Madhya Pradesh. Under new bill, anyone who does it will face jail term up to 10 yrs & minimum Rs 50,000 fine. Many incidents came to light where minor girls were converted, married & made to contest Panchayat polls: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan https://t.co/yYErFH85fHpic.twitter.com/5dcUVBXYlh

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2020