Now, Gujarat too plans an 'anti-love jihad' law

GANDHINAGAR: Close on the heels of BJP-governed UP and MP enforcing laws to thwart 'love jihad', the Gujarat government is planning to introduce a legal provision to act against those who force an individual into religious conversion in the name of love and marriage.


Although the stated objective of the

Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act

,

2003

is "prohibition of conversion from one religion to another by the use of force or allurement or by fraudulent means", the state government has been mulling introduction of an altogether new law to check 'love jihad' or further strengthening of the existing law to include the aspect of 'love jihad'.


The government has directed the departments concerned - home, law and legislative and parliamentary affairs - to legally vet the laws against 'love jihad' that have been enacted by the UP and MP governments.

"The government, meanwhile, is also considering the ordinance route to introduce a law against 'love jihad'," a key government source said.

The 2003 law mandates that a citizen obtain prior approval from the district authority for conversion. Anyone found guilty of forced conversion can face imprisonment up to three years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000.