MP Cabinet approves anti-conversion bill; forced conversion to result in 1-5 yrs of jail term and Rs 25,000 fine
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Bhopal, Dec 26: Ahead of the three-day Assembly session that will begin on December 28, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday approved the draft of MP Freedom of Religion Bill 2020. The state cabinet gave its nod to the bill at a special meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.
Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that under the new Bill, forcing religious conversion on someone will attract 1-5 years of imprisonment and a minimum Rs 25,000 fine. Madhya Pradesh has now become the third BJP-ruled state to clear anti-love jihad law after Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
UP Governor Anandiben Patel promulgated the law in November three days after the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet cleared the ordinance to bring in the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 against 'forced conversion' while Himachal implemented acts against forced conversions.
Know about the MP Freedom of Religion Bill 2020:
- The MP Freedom of Religion Bill 2020, also known as the 'Dharma Swatantrya Bill' 2020, was approved by the state cabinet today.
- The Bill comes with a provision for five-year rigorous imprisonment for luring a person through fraud and forcing marriage by religious conversion by making it a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
- Forcing religious conversion on someone will result in 1-5 yrs of imprisonment and a minimum Rs 25,000 fine, Narottam Mishra said.
- Forced conversion of a minor, woman or a person from Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, would draw a minimum jail term of 2-10 years with a minimum penalty of Rs 50,000.
- This bill will replace the Religious Freedom Act of 1968 (after the approval by the state Assembly)