BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government has called a special cabinet meeting on Saturday to approve the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2020 — touted as an anti-love-jihad law.
Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, home minister Narottam Mishra said, “The bill was discussed today and various suggestions have been made. A special meeting has been called on December 26 for cabinet approval of the bill before it is tabled in the assembly.”
The three-day winter session of assembly begins on December 28. Earlier, Mishra had said that the Madhya Pradesh anti-love jihad law will be stricter than those of other states — a prison term of two to 10 years if the victim happens to be a minor, or from an SC/ST community, plus a fine of 50,000.
Concealing one’s religion will lead to three to 10 years’ jail under the new law and fine starting from 50,000. Mass conversions (two or more) will also be subject to imprisonment of five to 10 years and fine of 1 lakh or more.