'Provision for death penalty for religious conversion of girls': Madhya Pradesh CM Yadav
BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav stated that the BJP government is working on suitable amendments in the state's anti-religious conversion law for providing the death penalty to those indulging in the religious conversion of girls.
Addressing the state-level International Women’s Day event in Bhopal, he said, “Our government is dedicated to the protection and self-respect of daughters.
After the provision of death penalty for those who commit atrocities (rape) against daughters, now provision of death penalty will also be made for those found guilty for religious conversion of daughters".
"Suitable provisions will be made in the MP Freedom of Religion Act 2021 for instituting the provision of death penalty for those found guilty for religious conversion of girls,” Yadav added.
Reacting over the development, Supreme Court’s senior advocate and Congress’s Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha said, “Religious conversion through wrong means is already punishable under the existing law. Hanging isn’t possible as per the Supreme Court’s decisions and the constitutional point of view. The CM is just trying to please his hardline constituents.”
The MP Freedom of Religion Act, know as the 'anti-Love Jihad' law in political circles, came into effect in 2021 and targets forced religious conversions.
It makes the religious conversion (including attempts and conspiracy) of any individual through enticement, threats, force, undue influence, coercion, marriage, or fraudulent means a cognizable and non-bailable offense.
Those convicted of religious conversion can face imprisonment for a term ranging from one to ten years, along with a fine between Rs 25,000 and Rs one lakh.
Meanwhile, during the Saturday’s state-level Women’s Death event in Bhopal, the CM also digitally transferred Rs 1.552.73 crore into the bank accounts of 1.27 crore beneficiaries under the Rs 1250 monthly CM Ladli Behna financial assistance Scheme and Rs 55.95 crore under the Rs 450 per gas cylinder refilling scheme into the accounts of 26 lakh women.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, women handled the entire command of CM’s security and arrangements, including the carcade.
The responsibility of security was tasked to Deputy Superintendent of Police Bittu Sharma, while the CM’s vehicle was driven by Inspector Irshad Ali. The responsibility of the carcade vehicles was assigned to Sapna and other women drivers.
The responsibility of OSD was performed by under-secretary Shrilekha Kshtriya, while the responsibility of press officer was given to Bindu Sunil and Sonia Parihar.
