Published 15:59 IST, February 8th 2021

BJP vows to enact law against 'Love Jihad' in Kerala if voted to power in Assembly polls

In a big development, BJP has to promised to bring in a law against 'Love Jihad' in the state if NDA is voted to power in the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls.

Reported by: Akhil Oka
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In a big development, BJP has to promised to bring in a law against 'Love Jihad' in state if NDA is voted to power in upcoming Kerala Assembly polls. Addressing media on February 7, Kerala BJP president K Surendran stressed that 'Love Jihad' is a serious issue. Claiming that even Christian community leaders have raised apprehensions about forced conversions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he accused  ruling Left Democratic Front and Congress-led United Democratic Front of maintaining silence over issue. In 2010, n Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan had raised alarm about 'Love Jihad' by blaming PFI and some or organisations of planning to turn state into a Muslim-majority state by doling out money.

Moreover, Surendran specified that anti-Love Jihad law in Kerala would be based on  Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020. Under this ordinance promulgated on vember 28, 2020, an individual who forcefully marries a girl for sheer purpose of converting her religion can face punishment up to 10 years in jail. While MP has also promulgated a similar Ordinance, BJP-led governments in Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka and Assam have also anunced ir intention to pass laws against forced religious conversions.

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Read: In First Case Under 'Love-Jihad' Law, Man Arrested In Madhya Pradesh's Barwani Dist

Centre rules out anti-conversion law

Ministry of Home Affairs on February 2 made it clear that Centre is t planning to bring an anti-conversion legislation to curb interfaith marris. MoS Home G Kishan Reddy made this revelation in response to an unstarred question by 5 Lok Sabha MPs- Mohammad Jawed, Anto Antony, TN Prathapan, K Sudhakaran and A Challakumar. This assumes significance as some BJP-ruled states have resolved to outlaw 'Love Jihad' and amended ir anti-conversion laws to prohibit religious conversion by marri. Maintaining that offences related to religious conversion are concern of respective state governments, Reddy ted that law enforcement ncies take requisite action as per existing law. 

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Union MoS G Kishan Reddy informed Lok Sabha, "'Public Order’ and ‘Police’ are State subjects as per Seventh Schedule to Constitution of India. Hence prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of offences related to religious conversions are primarily concerns of State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations. Action is taken as per existing laws by law enforcing ncies whenever instances of violation come to tice." 

Read: SC Refuses To Entertain UP Govt's Plea Seeking Transfer Of Anti-Love Jihad Ordinance Pleas

15:59 IST, February 8th 2021