U’KHAND GIVES NOD TO PROPOSAL FOR STRICTER LAW ON FORCED CONVERSION
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday decided to make the state’s anticonversion law stricter by making forced conversion a cognisable offence with provision for a 10-year imprisonment.
The state cabinet, led by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, gave its approval to the amendments in the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, a senior official said, adding that a bill to amend the law will be soon brought in the assembly.
The 2018 law stipulates a prison term of up to five years for anyone convicted of “forced or fraudulent” conversion.
“It will be an important milestone with regard to forceful conversations in the country,” said Mahendra Bhatt, Uttarakhand BJP chief. “It will instil fear in the mind of those who try to indulge in “Love jihad”.”
“Love jihad” is a term used by right-wing activists to describe marital relationships between Muslim men and Hindu women.
“The government’s focus should be on people-oriented issues, improving their lives, law-and-order situation,” said Karan Mahara, state Congress chief. “Unfortunately, they are trying to divert people’s attention by such decisions.