(Aditya Shaw, Intern Journalist): The Ministry of Home Affairs of Madhya Pradesh has notified Religious Freedom Bill – 2020 in the Gazette. Due to this move of the government, a strict law against alleged love jihad has now come into force. In December last year, the cabinet of Shivraj Singh Chauhan government approved the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Bill-2020. In the Bill, marriage or other fraudulent conversion will be considered as an offense, in which case a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to one lakh rupees has been provided.
According to the news report, this bill is very similar to the Uttar Pradesh Law Prevention of Religion Prohibition Ordinance -2020 notified by the Uttar Pradesh government. The Uttar Pradesh Law Prevention of Religion Prohibition Ordinance-2020 also provides for a maximum punishment of 10 years for the offense of forcible conversion. Law and Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh Narottam Mishra says that his government has tried to make this bill very stringent.
With the enactment of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Bill-2020, no one will be able to convert anyone to another in the name of inducement, intimidation, or forced marriage or in other fraudulent ways, directly or indirectly. For violation of this law, a provision of imprisonment ranging from one to 10 years and a fine of up to one lakh rupees has been made. Not only this, there is a provision of imprisonment ranging from three years to 10 years and punishment of 50 thousand rupees for the crime of hiding religion (alleged love jihad).
A provision of imprisonment for five to 10 years and a fine of one lakh rupees has been made for attempting mass conversions. A provision of imprisonment for two to 10 years and a fine of at least Rs 50 thousand for committing such an offense with a minor, scheduled caste, and scheduled tribe. Not only this, it has been mandatory in the Bill to inform the District Magistrate of 60 days before voluntarily converting or conducting religion. For not doing so, there is a provision of imprisonment of at least three to five years and a fine of at least 50 thousand rupees.
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