Love Jihad perpetrators will be sentenced to life imprisonment in UP

Bill to amend the law passed

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) – The Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath government passed the ‘Uttar Pradesh Illegal Conversion Prevention (Amendment) Bill’ in the Legislative Assembly. It provides for life imprisonment for crimes like ‘Love Jihad’. The original bill was passed in the year 2021. At that time there was a provision of maximum 10 years imprisonment and Rs 50,000 fine. Both punishments and fines have been increased by the reforms introduced by the government.

Earlier, there was a provision of imprisonment for 1-5 years and a fine of Rs 15,000 for conversion and fraudulent marriage. Now for this crime there will be imprisonment of 3-10 years and a fine of Rs 25,000.

There was a provision of imprisonment of 2-10 years and a fine of Rs 25,000 for Love Jihad with minor girls or women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Now it has been increased to 5-14 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

At present, illegal mass conversions are punishable by imprisonment for 3-10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000. It has now been changed to imprisonment for 7-14 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

If anyone shows fear of life or property, uses force or pressures anyone to convert, he will be punished with life imprisonment and fine.

According to the government, the seriousness of the crime, the social status and dignity of women, and the need to increase the punishment and penalty to prevent illegal conversion of Scheduled Castes and Tribes. That is why this bill is being introduced. Under the amended Bill, the court will be able to fix an amount as fine towards the victim’s medical expenses and rehabilitation.

Action even if funding is received from a foreign institution

Funding for illegal conversion has also been included in the category of crime under this Act. If funds are received for conversion from any foreign organization or any illegal organization, action will be taken against the directors of the organization under this Act.

Editorial Perspectives 

  • If the Uttar Pradesh government can pass such laws, why can’t other states do the same ? Or State governments do not think it is their duty to protect Hindus ? 
  • Commendable decision by the Uttar Pradesh government to increase the severity of punishment in the law. However, it appears that no matter how strict laws are passed, fanatical Muslims do not stop committing crimes because they do not fear the law. Due to this, it will be necessary to introduce death penalty.