Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has formed a seven-member committee to study legal provisions for curbing ‘love jihad’ and forced religious conversions. The panel, headed by the state’s Director General of Police, will examine the possibility of enacting a law similar to those implemented in Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
The term ‘love jihad’ is a narrative promoted by right-wing organisations, alleging that Muslim men lure Hindu and Christian women into marriage and coerce them into converting to Islam. The committee is expected to assess existing laws and make recommendations for a potential legislation in Maharashtra.
The panel comprises secretaries from the departments of women and child development, minority development, law and judiciary, social justice and special assistance, and home. A government resolution issued on Friday by Home Department Deputy Secretary Hemant Mahajan confirmed the formation of the committee.
According to the resolution, elected representatives, former legislators, various organisations, and citizens had urged the state government to introduce a law to curb ‘love jihad’ and forced conversions. The resolution noted that some states had already enacted such laws and that Maharashtra would study the present situation and explore possible measures to address the issue, including conversions carried out through fraudulent means.
The demand for legislation has been growing, particularly from BJP legislators and Hindu organisations. BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has been vocal on the issue since December 2022, repeatedly urging the government to enact a strict law against ‘love jihad’ and forced conversions. He stated that multiple protests had been organised by various groups demanding such legislation and that women’s delegations had formally requested Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to introduce a law similar to those in Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
In December 2022, Fadnavis, who also serves as Maharashtra’s Home Minister, said that the government was considering a law on ‘love jihad’ but would first study the legal framework adopted by other states. He reiterated that no final decision had been made but confirmed that a review of existing legislation was underway.
Speaking at the Sakal Hindu Samaj rally on February 4, Nitesh Rane declared that the Maharashtra government, guided by its Hindutva ideology, would take a strong stance against ‘love jihad,’ ‘land jihad,’ and cow slaughter.
The committee’s findings and recommendations are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the state’s policy on this contentious issue.
With IANS inputs