After UP and MP, is Gujarat mulling law on love jihad?

Dabhoi BJP MLA Shailesh Mehta wants UP law to be brought in state, claims he has data of forced conversions which he can share with the govt

In line with Uttar Pradesh which has become the first state to bring a law prohibiting “love jihad” or a law prohibiting forced or dishonest religious conversions across the state, an MLA from Dabhoi in Vadodara district has also demanded bringing in that the same law be introduced in Gujarat. BJP MLA Shailesh Mehta alias Shailesh Sotta has demanded that such a law should be implemented in court after a number of alleged “love jihad” incidents in the state, he said.

Yogi Adityanath-ruled Uttar Pradesh became the first state to promulgate the law prohibiting forced or dishonest religious conversions which the saffron outfits have termed it as love jihad. The law namely Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 got the assent of Governor Anandiben Patel last Saturday. Sotta told Mirror, “I will be writing a letter to the state government seeking a law in Gujarat similar to the law brought in UP.

There have been an increase in cases of minor girls getting married to boys of other religions in Vadodara city and district. I have collected the data and will give it to the government to substantiate my claim. Most of the marriages are between Hindus and Muslims.” Calls made to Law minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and MoS Home Pradipsinh Jadeja for their comment in the matter remained unanswered.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Chavda said, “The Constitution of India has given freedom to the citizens and it cannot be taken away by bringing some laws which are against it. Laws cannot be introduced based upon any religion which can take away the constitutional right of the people.”