Every state should act on 'Love Jihad' cases: Mahesh Poddar

Speaking against the ever-increasing crimes against women and the cases of "love jihad" in India, Jharkhand BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Mahesh Poddar demanded a strong law against people getting into relationships with Hindu girls with an intention to convert them to Islam.

Ranchi: The Jharkhand BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Mahesh Poddar on Monday said termed 'love jihad' a "serious problem" and backed the decision of its state governments to enact laws against it.

BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have expressed their intention to bring a law against 'love jihad', a term coined by Hindutva groups for Hindu girls being allegedly forced to convert to Islam in the guise of marriage.

Speaking to media persons through video conference, Poddar said, "Love Jihad concept has been characterized by people in the wrong notion. Taking advantage of the girl, marrying and converting the girl into other religion and forcing her to suffer atrocities of the society is a crime. This has to be stopped."

" My state has also seen several such cases and recently a girl suffered bad consequences. Love jihad is a serious problem. Many mothers and sisters have suffered it's bad consequences. This is a state matter and state governments should enact a law against it," he said.

Some state governments are working in this regard and will continue to do so, he added.