MP cabinet approves Freedom of Religion Bill 2020; min 2-10 years jail term for violators

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Saturday has approved  'MP Freedom to Religion Bill, 2020'. new law nullifies Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam law of 1968. bill aims to prevent conversion by marri. In addition, bill also seeks to prohibit religious conversion by financial 'allurement', fraudulent, and forceful means.  cabinet meeting was chaired by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

READ: MP Cabinet To Clear 'anti-Love Jihad' Bill On Dec 26; To Be Tabled In Assembly reafter

MP cabinet approves 'anti-Love Jihad' bill

According to Madhya Pradesh's Home Minister Narottam Mishra, new Religious Freedom bill has 19 clauses. In addition, he also added that forceful conversions will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 25,000 and imprisonment of 1-5 years. Moreover, Mishra also added that forced conversion of a mir woman or a person from Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, would draw a minimum jail term of 2-10 years with a minimum penalty of Rs 50,000. Here are complete aspects of Religious Freedom Bill: 

• In case of religious conversion, affected person or his/her parents or blood relatives can file a complaint.
• offence will be cognizable, n-bailable, and can be taken up by Sessions Court.
• Such a case can be investigated only by a police officer of Sub Inspector rank or above.
• burden of proving that conversion has t been done by force will be on accused.
• Marri conducted with intention of conversion will be considered null and void. 
• person can attempt to abet or conspire religious conversion.  
• If a person wants to convert to ar religion, he/she has to submit a letter of declaration to District Magistrate one month in advance. 
• For violating Section 3, an individual faces imprisonment of 1-5 years and a fine of t less than Rs.25,000.
• If victim is a mir, woman, or belongs to SC/ST, guilty can be punished with 2-10 years imprisonment besides a minimum fine of Rs.50,000.
• An attempt to hide one's religion will be punishable by imprisonment of 3-10 years and a fine of at least Rs.50,000.
• Attempting mass religious conversions (of two or more persons) will attract imprisonment of 5-10 years and a fine of at least Rs.1 lakh.

READ | UP's 'Love Jihad' Law Explained: What Is It And How Is Different From Or States' Laws

UP's 'Love Jihad' law

Uttar Pradesh government had already passed  'Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Bill 2020' on vember 28. law does t specifically mention term 'love jihad' or defines it. Even so, it makes forceful religious conversion, including through marri, punishable with a jail term of 1-5 years with Rs.15,000 penalty. Moreover, if woman is a mir or belongs to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, jail term will be between 3-10 years and penalty upto Rs.25,000. law also punishes mass conversions with a jail term iof 3-10 years and fine of Rs.50,000 on organisations conducting it. A day after law was passed in UP, an FIR was filed against a man for allegedly tricking a girl into marri for purpose of converting her religion. This was first case registered against 'Love Jihad' in country

READ: Allahabad HC Refuses Interim Stay On Anti-Love Jihad Ordinance; Matter Adjourned To Jan 7

What is 'Love Jihad'?

Love Jihad is a term referring to an alleged campaign by Muslim men to convert Hindu girls under pretext of love. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma has often claimed that Kerala has 'rampant' love jihad, adding that y (alluding to Muslims) were luring women - t just Hindus, but even Christians and forcefully converting m in Kerala. After investigation, National Investigation ncy (NIA) stated that it though it had found a common mentor in some of Kerala cases in August 2017, re was evidence of attempted or forced conversion in such cases.  Earlier this year, MoS Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy informed Parliament that 'love jihad' is t defined under current laws adding that case of 'love jihad' has been reported by any of Central ncies. 

READ: First FIR Filed Under 'Love Jihad' Law In UP's Bareilly, A Day After Approval Of Ordinance