MP Vidhan Sabha passed the freedom of religion act
Bhopal: On Monday, the state Legislature of Madhya Pradesh passed the Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021. The state Cabinet approved the bill in a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in December of last year. The bill repeals a government order issued in January that sought to prevent religious conversions through deception.
the bill provided heavy fines and 10 years’ probation for infringers in some cases. The bill, which was signed by Governor Anandiben Patel on January 9, makes it illegal to convert to a different religion for the purpose of marriage.
In Madhya Pradesh we’re not going to accept forced conversions. Anyone who does so faces prison sentence up to 10 years and Rs 50,000 fine at least under the current law. Many cases of minor girls being converted, married, and forced to run for Panchayat elections have come to light,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
“Everyone – all sects and castes – has a stake in our government. There is no bigotry, but if someone wants to do something vile to our daughters, I will break you. You will be defeated if anyone plots sexual conversion or engages in ‘love jihad,’ as per Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
‘The new law will attract a person’s religious conversion for one to five years and will attract a minimum of 25,000 Rs,’ said State Minister Narottam Mishra. “Forced conversion of a minor, woman, or individual from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe will attract a minimum jail term of 2-10 years and a minimum punishment of Rs 50,000 under the current MP Freedom of Religion Bill 2020,” he continued.
According to state Home Minister Narottam Mishra, 23 cases were filed under the legislation within a month of its implementation. According to him, the Bhopal division had the most incidents, with seven, followed by Indore with five, Jabalpur with four, and Gwalior with three.
The Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Bill, 2021, was also approved by voice vote by the Uttar Pradesh State Legislative Assembly on February 24.
The Yogi Adityanath Cabinet had previously approved the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, which proposed a maximum penalty of ten years for “love jihad”-related offences.
