Anti-‘Love Jihad’ Law On The Horizon? Maharashtra Govt Forms Panel To Examine Legal Framework

A seven-member committee has been set up by the Maharashtra government to examine the legal framework for a potential law against forced religious conversions and "love jihad" cases, India Today reported.

The committee, led by Maharashtra’s Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Verma, consists of senior officials from key departments, including women and child welfare, minority affairs, law and judiciary, social justice, special assistance, and home.

A Government Resolution (GR) issued on Friday (14 February) stated that the committee will suggest measures to tackle complaints related to forced conversions and "love jihad", India Today reported.

It will also review existing laws in other states and recommend legal provisions.

The issue of "love jihad," referring to alleged cases of Muslim men luring Hindu women to convert them, has been a focal point for the BJP-led Maharashtra government, especially after the Shraddha Walkar case.

Shraddha Walkar, a 27-year-old woman from Maharashtra, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala in 2022.

The opposition has criticised the government's move, with NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule saying that to "marry or love is a personal choice".

"I request the government to focus on real issues. Prime Minister Modi just returned from the US, and America has imposed new tariffs, which will impact our country. The government should pay attention to such matters and focus on the economic situation," Sule was quoted as saying by India Today.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi also criticised the BJP, alleging that the government’s intent was to target Muslims and spreading communalism.

"They want to give freedom for live-in relationships, but if someone over 18 wants to have an interfaith marriage or convert, they have a problem with it. There is no such thing as love jihad," Azmi said.

Congress leader Husain Dalwai claimed that forced conversions do not happen and "love jihad" was a myth.

"Democracy allows everyone to follow any religion. Our country is secular, but some people want to destroy the fabric of our culture. Let them show how many cases of love jihad they have actually seen. These people want to bring Hitler’s culture into our country," the Congress leader said.

Backing the government’s decision, BJP MLA Mangal Lodha said that "love jihad" cases were on the rise nationwide.

"We all saw how many pieces Shraddha Walkar was cut into. There are many such cases in Maharashtra. When we try to stop Love Jihad, the opposition has a problem," Lodha said.

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