New Delhi: When several Bhartiya Janata Party ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, are planning to bring in strict laws against "love jihad", Congress leaders slammed the ruling party for "manufacturing" a new word to "divide" the nation in the name of religion.
While speaking to ETV Bharat, Congress senior leader PL Punia said, "There is no such word like 'Love Jihad'. This issue has been just to divide our country in the name of religion. They want to give a message to the people that they are against a particular religion and we want to take action against them.
"There are already enough laws on this issue. If they want to make stringent rules then they can make amendments to the existing laws and bring them to the Assembly. But portraying it as propaganda to disturb the harmony is wrong," he further added.
The first attack came from Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot after BJP Governed states of UP, Haryana and MP said that they are considering enactment of laws to curb such marriages. UP Home Department has even sent a proposal to the state's law ministry for a stringent law over the matter.
In a series of tweets, Gehlot said, "Love Jihad is a word manufactured by BJP to divide the nation and disturb communal harmony. Marriage is a matter of personal liberty, bringing a law to curb it, is completely unconstitutional and it will not stand in any Court of law. Jihad has no place in love."
"They are creating an environment in the nation where consenting adults would be at mercy of State Power. Marriage is a personal decision and they are putting curbs on it, which is like snatching away personal liberty," he said in another tweet.