After UP & MP, Gujarat govt to implement 'Love Jihad' law soon, says CM Vijay Rupani

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani while addressing a public gathering at Tarsali area of Vadodara said that the state government will soon bring a law against 'Love Jihad'. During his public address, Gujarat CM said, "Our BJP government will introduce 'Love Jihad' Act in assembly so that such activities are not tolerated in future." Responding to this the crowd cheered and raised slogans of "Jai Shri Ram". 

If CM Rupani follows through with his announcement Gujarat will become the third state to enact a law to prevent forced conversions after Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 

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

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

In a big development, BJP has promised to bring in a law against 'Love Jihad' in the state if the NDA is voted to power in the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls. Addressing the 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 the ruling Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front of maintaining silence over the issue. In 2010, the then Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan had raised alarm about 'Love Jihad' by blaming PFI and some other organisations of planning to turn the state into a Muslim-majority state by doling out money.

READ | UP Govt Seeks Transfer Of Anti-Love Jihad Ordinance Pleas From Allahabad HC To SC

Centre rules out anti-conversion law

The Ministry of Home Affairs on February 2 made it clear that the Centre is not planning to bring anti-conversion legislation to curb interfaith marriages. 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 their anti-conversion laws to prohibit religious conversion by marriage. Maintaining that offences related to religious conversion are the concern of the respective state governments, Reddy noted that the law enforcement agencies take requisite action as per the existing law. 

READ | BJP Vows To Enact Law Against 'Love Jihad' In Kerala If Voted To Power In Assembly Polls

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

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