Gujarat to bring law against 'love jihad', says CM Rupani

Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday said his government was contemplating bringing a strict law against growing menace of “love jihad”.

“We are going to bring a law against love jihad in the Assembly. Such activities being done in the name of love jihad will not be tolerated... The BJP government will bring strict laws against love jihad,” Mr. Rupani said at a municipal election rally in Vadodara on Sunday.

However, there appears no clarity in the government regarding the timing of the putative law.

The Chief Minister also did not elaborate except making what appears to be a vague announcement.

The BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh brought contentious laws to curb religious conversion through marriage or by any other means.

Mr. Rupani said his government had enacted laws with stringent provisions to deal with goons and criminals and those involved in land grabbing activities.

Though the BJP-ruled States have brought or are contemplating bringing laws against interfaith marriages, the Home Ministry recently told Parliament that the Centre has no intention of bringing anti-conversion law to curb such marriages.