After UP, Madhya Pradesh government is set to bring a law against ‘Love Jihad’ in the next session of the assembly.
State home minister Narottam Mishra on Tuesday told that the law will provide for five years of rigorous imprisonment to the culprits.
“We will bring a legislation against ‘love jihad’ through Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Vidheyak in the coming session of assembly. The bill will have provisions of rigorous imprisonment up to five years on forcible marriage, seduction and forced conversions,” Mishra told reporters on Tuesday.
“The act also proposes that the offence be cognizable and non-bailable. Provisions will also be made to declare the forced marriage and conversions as null and void. Action will also be proposed against the collaborator in forcible conversions like the main accused,” Mishra further added.
Mishra said that the district magistrate will have to be informed one month in advance for voluntary conversions for marriage by both the person concerned and the conversant.
Madhya Pradesh is the latest to join the list of Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states – which includes Karnataka, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – that have spoken about introducing laws against “love jihad”.