Keypoints:
- Religious Freedom Bill provides prison term of up to 10 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh for conversion through marriage or by any other fraudulent means.
- After the approval by the cabinet, the bill will now be presented in the state Assembly.
The bill will replace the Religious Freedom Act of 1968 once it gets approved by the state assembly, said the State Home Minister Narottam Mishra. On Saturday, the Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the religious freedom bill 2020, which provides prison term of upto 10 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh for conversion through marriage or by any fraudulent means, said Mishra.
He claimed that once the law is enforced, it will be the most stringent law in the country against religious conversions carried out by fraudulent means, allurement or any threat. The bill has been approved by the cabinet and will now be presented in the State Assembly.
अपना धर्म छुपाकर (#LoveJihad) धर्म स्वातंत्र्य अधिनियम का उल्लंघन करने पर तीन साल से दस साल तक के कारावास और 50 हजार रूपए अर्थदण्ड और सामूहिक धर्म परिवर्तन (02 या अधिक व्यक्ति का) का प्रयास करने पर 5 से 10 वर्ष के कारावास एवं एक लाख रूपए के अर्थदण्ड का प्रावधान किया गया है। pic.twitter.com/GN9x06YnsP
— Dr Narottam Mishra (@drnarottammisra) December 26, 2020
“This bill will replace the Religious Freedom Act of 1968 (after the approval by the state Assembly),” he added.
A provision is also being made that those willing to convert need to apply before the district administration two months prior, Mishra said.
Any marriage solemnized only for the purpose of converting a person will be considered null and void under the provisions of this proposed legislation, said Mishra.
