Weeks after the Karnataka and Haryana governments said they were considering legislation against “love jihad”, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra today said the state government would soon bring in a law to counter the problem.
A bill may be brought in in the next assembly session itself to tackle “love jihad”, Mr Mishra said, adding there will be a provision of five years rigorous imprisonment in it.

“Cases will be registered under non-bailable sections…The collaborator will also be the culprit like the main accused,” Mr Mishra said. “For voluntary conversion for marriage, it will be mandatory to apply to the collector a month in advance.”

In February this year, the Central government had told Parliament that the term “love jihad” is not defined under any existing law and no case has been reported by any central agency. With this, the central government had for the first time officially distanced itself from the idea of rightwing religious groups using marriage as a ruse to convert women.

However, on November 6, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said his government was keen on bringing in such a law against religious conversion in the name of “love jihad”.

On the same day, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij told the state Assembly that the government was considering a similar law and has sought information from Himachal Pradesh administration on this. The Himachal Pradesh assembly had last year passed a bill against conversion by force, inducement or through marriages solemnised for the “sole purpose” of adopting a new religion.

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