Vadodara: Dabhoi BJP MLA Shailesh Mehta, who is also a heavyweight corporator from Vadodara, has sparked a controversy by suggesting that a law regarding ‘love jihad’ on the lines of Uttar Pradesh should be considered for Gujarat too.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance aims at curbing forcible or dishonest conversions including those for marriage. Mehta said that even other states are considering such a law and claimed that incidents where girls were enticed by telling lies or cheating them were on a rise. He added that he made the comments when asked about his opinion on the law in UP.
According to Mehta, it was an altogether different situation if two persons from different faith married each other following rules and with proper understanding. He said that the intention was not to ban inter-faith marriages. “But in some cases people hide their real names and get into relationships with girls who are at times minors,” said Mehta.
Mehta said that a strict law would ensure that girls are not cheated. He added that such incidents were increasing in his constituency Dabhoi as well as Vadodara city and district and the state too. “There are incidents where girls have been blackmailed too,” he said.