The Maharashtra government has set up a seven-member panel, headed by the state Director General of Police (DGP), to consider the legal system for a likely law against forceful conversions and cases often labelled as "love jihad."
Members of the committee are top functionaries from diverse departments, namely women and child welfare, minority affairs, law and judiciary, social justice, special assistance, and deputy secretaries of the home department.
As per a Government Resolution (GR) released towards the end of Friday, the committee's initial responsibility is to evaluate the existing scenario in the state and recommend steps to address complaints pertaining to forced conversions and "love jihad." It will also examine existing similar laws in other states and make recommendations on possible legislation to check such activities.
"Love jihad" is a term used by right-wing groups to describe an alleged conspiracy wherein Muslim men seek to convert Hindu women to Islam through marriage.
Describing the step, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the state government is taking proactive steps to check such incidents.
Lodha, also the joint guardian minister of Mumbai suburban district, thanked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the move.
"Love jihad is a serious issue, and the state government is working towards preventing such incidents. The committee established to address cases of love jihad will work for the protection of women and preservation of cultural values," he said.
Commenting on the move, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha stated that the state government is taking decisive action to prevent such occurrences.
Lodha, who serves as the joint guardian minister of Mumbai suburban district, expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the initiative.
“Love jihad is a serious concern, and the state government is committed to curbing such incidents. The committee will work toward protecting women and preserving cultural values,” Lodha said.
He also remembered his stint in the Eknath Shinde government's Women and Child Development Department, during which he had established the Interfaith Marriage Coordination Committee to bring such cases into the spotlight.
In reference to particular cases in Mumbai and its suburbs, Lodha referred to instances in which Hindu women were reportedly murdered by their Muslim boyfriends. He spoke about Shraddha Walkar's murder by Aftab Amin, Rupali Chandanshive's murder by Iqbal Sheikh, Poonam Kshirsagar's murder by Nizam Khan, Yashashree Shinde's murder at the hands of Dawood Sheikh, and Sonam Shukla's murder by Shahjib Ansari.
But NCP (SP) chief and Baramati MP Supriya Sule had a different opinion, saying that love and marriage are individual decisions. She asked the government to concentrate on urgent economic issues instead.
Sule pointed out falling growth and consumption levels, stressing that economic losses would affect the whole nation adversely.
"If the economy is impacted, then the entire country will suffer," Sule added.
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