Yogi Adityanath-led UP government on Monday introduced an amendment to its existing laws on “love jihad”, proposing life imprisonment for those convicted under these offences.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion (Amendment) Bill, proposes doubling the penalties for crimes classified under “love jihad,” with life imprisonment as a potential sentence for certain offences.
The bill also broadens the definition of “love jihad” to include additional offences, all of which could now warrant life imprisonment.
Under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, sentences range from 1 to 10 years for violations. The law stipulates that a marriage will be deemed “null and void” if a woman’s conversion is solely for the purpose of marriage. Additionally, the onus to prove that the conversion has not been done forcibly will lie on the accused and the convert.
Adityanath’s government has long championed a tough stance on “love jihad,” making it a key issue in the 2017 assembly elections. Since then, the government has been committed to creating stringent laws to address this issue. The new bill includes provisions allowing courts to impose fines to cover victims’ medical expenses.
In addition, the bill expands the scope of who can report “love jihad” cases. Previously, only victims, their parents, or siblings could file complaints. Under the new bill, anyone can submit written complaints to the police, which will then prompt an investigation.
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