Fadnavis Says ‘Love Jihad’ Is Reality, Defends Plans to Enact Law Against It
CM asserts interfaith marriages are acceptable but warns against fraud; opposition slams the move as interference in personal choices.
Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said there was nothing wrong with interfaith marriages, but steps are needed to be taken against matrimonial alliances through fraud and false identity. Justifying his government’s plans to enact a law against “love jihad”, Mr Fadnavis said that such cases were a very serious issue and action must be taken by the government.
The Maharashtra CM said the state government cannot remain a mute spectator when the cases of ‘love jihad’ are rising. “It is a reality, and in Maharashtra, incidents of being duped into marriage and then abandoned once children are born are on the rise. It is not right to deliberately lie. Therefore, whatever action is required in this regard will be taken by the state government,” he said.
“Love jihad” is a term used by right-wing activists and outfits for interfaith marriages to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to convert Hindu women to Islam through marriage. The Maharashtra government has formed a seven-member committee to examine the legal framework for a potential law against forced religious conversions and cases of “love jihad”.
Mr. Fadnavis also claimed that the Supreme Court has also made observations regarding “love jihad”. He said, “The Supreme Court has also acknowledged the reality of love jihad in its decision. In a state like Maharashtra, we are constantly seeing that such cases are increasing. First of all, we all should understand that it is not wrong for a person of one religion to marry a person of another religion. But marrying someone by lying and using a false identity is a serious issue.”
The seven-member panel formed by the Maharashtra government will also look at legal aspects and the laws framed in other states and recommend legislation to prevent forced conversions and “love jihad”.
The opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party and NCP (SP), have slammed the government and accused it of trying to interfere in people’s personal decisions. However, the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders have justified the government decision.
Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the state government was committed to bring in a stringent law against “love jihad”. “The law will be one of the best in the country. The government is taking several measures, and the party is also contributing to it,” he said.
