Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday said that the state government is planning to bring a law to curb the practice of 'love jihad'.
In a special conversation with ETV Bharat, Mishra said, "We are planning to introduce Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2020 in the upcoming session of the state Assembly."
Mishra said that the proposed law would provide for five years of rigorous imprisonment for cases involving forceful religious conversions for marriage.
He added that it is being proposed to make the crime a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
Mishra said that the state government was trying to make such 'love jihad' marriages "null and void".
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Meanwhile, if a person wishes to voluntarily convert, permission will have to be sought from the collector, Mishra said.
The Home Minister further stated that even those assisting others in 'love jihad' will be held guilty under the new law and be punished accordingly.
Madhya Pradesh has become the yet another BJP-ruled state to announce its intention to make legal provisions against "love jihad".
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Karnataka had made similar announcements.
"Love jihad" is a term used by right-wing activists to refer to the alleged campaign of Muslims forcing Hindu girls to convert in the guise of love.
Read: Voice for strong law against 'love jihad' gets stronger
