‘Inter-faith marriage not wrong, but … ‘: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis defends committee against ‘love jihad’ | India News

Maharashtra CM D Fadnavis (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the state government’s decision to form a committee to examine legal options against “love jihad“. He said that while interfaith marriages are not wrong, deceitful conversions through false identities must be addressed.
“The Supreme Court has also acknowledged the reality of love jihad in its decision. Even in Maharashtra, we are seeing an increase in such cases. It is not wrong for a person of one religion to marry a person of another religion. But marrying someone by lying and showing false identity is wrong. These incidents are very serious, and action must be taken,” Fadnavis said, as reported by news agency ANI.
The Maharashtra government has established a seven-member panel to explore legal provisions on forced conversions. Led by the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), the committee includes senior officials from departments such as law and judiciary, women and child development, minority affairs, social justice, special assistance, and home affairs. The panel will study similar laws in other states and recommend measures to tackle reported cases.
BJP leaders, including Union minister Ramdas Athawale, have welcomed the move, calling for stricter laws to prevent religious conversions through coercion. “There should be a law against love jihad. The conversion of women is not right. Two youngsters of different religions coming together is normal, but girls shouldn’t be forcefully converted,” Athawale said.
Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha also expressed support, claiming that the number of such cases has risen, particularly in Mumbai. He said that when he raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha, Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh opposed it and even filed a court case against him. “Does he want to encourage love jihad?” Lodha questioned. He added that many cases go unreported and thanked Fadnavis for setting up the committee.
The government resolution (GR) setting up the committee specifically mentioned ‘love jihad’ and outlined the panel’s responsibilities, which include examining other states’ laws, handling complaints, and developing legal frameworks, TOI had earlier reported. The document noted that the decision was based on requests from public representatives, organisations, and citizens seeking action against forced conversions.
Fadnavis had previously indicated plans for such a law when he was deputy chief minister in 2023. He had stated that growing concerns over religious conversions through marriage had prompted demands for legal measures.
“Many cases have come up of girls getting married and converting. There is demand from all corners to make a law against this. Earlier, I had made an announcement in the House also. Accordingly, study of laws in various states is on and then the decision about it in Maharashtra will be taken,” he had said at the time.