Gujarat govt to bring love jihad law with 5-year-jail term against forced religious conversion
India Today
The Gujarat government led by CM Vijay Rupani has proposed an amendment to the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 to bring more stringent punishment against forced religious conversions through marriage.
The Gujarat government led by CM Vijay Rupani has proposed an amendment to the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 to bring more stringent punishment against forced religious conversions through marriage. The new law will invite a maximum jail term of seven years along with a penalty. The proposed Gujarat ‘love jihad’ law comes along the lines of those in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and a few other states. The amendment bill that was submitted in the Gujarat assembly on Tuesday seeks to prohibit and punish religious conversions promising better lifestyle, divine blessings and impersonation.
As per the Bill, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and shall also be liable for a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Violations in respect of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.
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