The Maharashtra government has established a seven-member committee to evaluate the legal framework for a potential law against forced religious conversions and cases of “love jihad”. The committee, led by state Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Verma, includes senior officials from key departments such as women and child welfare, minority affairs, law and judiciary, social justice, special assistance, and home.
Committee’s Role and Objectives
According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued late on Friday, the panel will propose measures to tackle complaints related to forced conversions and “love jihad”. Additionally, the committee will analyze existing laws in other states and recommend legal provisions for Maharashtra.
The term “love jihad” refers to alleged cases where Muslim men are accused of luring Hindu women into relationships with the intent of religious conversion. The issue gained political momentum in Maharashtra following the Shraddha Walkar case. Walkar, a 27-year-old woman from Maharashtra, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala in 2022. This case has been cited by the BJP-led ruling coalition to justify the need for stricter laws on forced religious conversions.
Political Reactions and Criticism
The opposition has strongly criticized the government’s move, arguing that personal relationships should not be a matter of state intervention.
NCP leader Supriya Sule stated, “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.”
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Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi accused the government of targeting Muslims and fostering communal discord. “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,” he stated.
Congress Leader Husain Dalwai dismissed the idea of “love jihad” as a myth, asserting, “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.”
BJP’s Stand on the Issue
Defending the government’s stance, BJP MLA Mangal Lodha argued that “love jihad” cases were rising across the country.
“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.
