Rajasthan BJP's Satish Poonia demands law against 'Love Jihad'; BJYM starts campaign

Rajasthan's state BJP chief Satish Poonia took to Twitter on Thursday to kickstart a campaign against 'Love Jih' led by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) demanding a law against unlawful religious conversions in state. Speaking about movement, Poonia said emphasized need to draft a law against 'love jih' in order to 'protect women of Rajasthan' while calling it a form of 'Islamic terrorism'. Rajasthan BJP Chief Satish Poonia also urged Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to make a law against 'forced conversions' much like one passed by Uttar Presh government. 

In a video mess shared by Satish Poonia, speaking in Hindi, he says, "India is a unique country where people from all religions, faith and sects are allowed to offer prayers to ir God in ir own way and every person calls upon and expresses ir devotion to India by calling it 'Bharat Mata'. But we all kw that terrorism is a challenge faced by entire world. 'Love Jih' is a part of it."

"Don't focus on word" 

In a tification issued by  Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), organisation informed that campaign against 'Love Jih' has been inaugurated by Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia. tice informs that BJP chief has expressed support for campaign while urging  Rajasthan government to take a step towards same and come up with a 'stringent law' to protect 'sisters & daughter' of states from being victimised. BJYM furr ded that organisation will campaign across state demanding stricter laws against 'Love Jih' and unlawful religious conversions while terming m 'fraudulent'. 

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"Love Jih- don't focus on word inste focus on intent and situation behind it. All women of Rajasthan, our sisters and daughters are victims of forceful religious conversions and face harassment and torture. This is why law that Uttar Presh government has come up with against unlawfully religious conversions is praiseworthy. Rajasthan government should also mull over this and take a call to come up with a similar law against 'Love Jih'. I inaugurate BJYM's campaign against 'Love Jih' and fully support initiative. In order to ensure that women of our state don't have to face such harassment and forceful conversions, we need to begin a social movement when has been done by BJYM. I also request Rajasthan government and Chief Minister of state to think about this and for sure pass a stringent law against this," said Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia. 

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Uttar Presh's Love Jih ordinance

Under ordinance enforced by Yogi ityanath-led government against 'Love Jih', an individual who forcefully marries a girl for sheer purpose of converting her religion can face punishment up to 10 years in jail while declaring such relations null and void. 'Forceful religious conversions' are w punishable with a jail term of up to 5 years with a fine of Rs. 15,000 and if woman is a mir or belongs to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, jail term will be up to 10 years with a fine of Rs. 25,000. 

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Uttarakhand's Freedom of Religion Act, 2018 outlaws  'attempt to convert' by any person using ' misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marri'. Any person found guilty of this crime can be sentenced to prison for up to 7 years. On or hand, Mhya Presh, Haryana and Assam government have declared ir plans to enforce a law against 'Love Jih'.

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