Maharashtra Government Committee Formed to Address 'Love Jihad' Concerns; Minister Calls It a Long-Standing Request
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Synopsis
The Maharashtra government has set up a seven-member committee led by the DGP to explore legal aspects of a proposed law addressing forced religious conversions and instances of 'love jihad.' Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha praised this initiative, calling it a long-overdue demand from the Hindu community.
Key Takeaways
- Maharashtra government forms a committee on 'love jihad.'
- Minister Lodha endorses the committee's creation.
- Focus on forced religious conversions and targeted community actions.
- The committee will analyze other states' legal frameworks.
- No deadline for the report submission.
Mumbai, Feb 15 (NationPress) The government of Maharashtra has established a seven-member committee, headed by the state's Director General of Police (DGP), to investigate the legal implications of a proposed statute targeting forced religious conversions and incidents commonly referred to as 'love jihad.' Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha expressed his approval of this initiative, labeling it a long-overdue request.
In comments made to IANS, Lodha stated, “This has been a request from the entire Hindu community. Such occurrences have been increasing consistently in Maharashtra and throughout the nation. I extend my thanks to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on behalf of the 12 crore residents of our state for establishing this committee. Mumbai has become a focal point for such incidents.”
Lodha further asserted that Mumbai has experienced five significant cases of 'love jihad' in the past year, mentioning the cases of Shraddha Walkar, Rupali Chandanshive, Yashashri Shinde, Sonam Shukla, and Poonam Kshirsagar.
“Individuals from a specific community intentionally target girls from another community. If this is not 'love jihad,' then what is it? When I brought this matter to the Assembly, MLA Rais Shaikh initiated legal action against me. Politicians like Rais Shaikh misuse their positions to protect those involved in 'love jihad.'” Lodha told IANS.
A Government Resolution (GR) released late on Friday night stated that the panel will evaluate the current landscape in Maharashtra and propose strategies to tackle grievances related to forced religious conversions and 'love jihad.'
The committee comprises senior officials from essential government sectors, including Women and Child Welfare, Minority Affairs, Law and Judiciary, Social Justice and Special Assistance, and the Home Department (with representatives from the Deputy Secretaries).
However, there is no specified timeline for the committee to present its findings.
Their task involves reviewing the legal systems in other states where comparable laws have been implemented and recommending an appropriate legislative framework for Maharashtra. The committee will evaluate the success of existing measures and suggest necessary actions to curb incidents of forced religious conversions.
