Critics claim this could be the state government’s first step towards bringing a law on conversion citing ‘love jihad’
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde; (Photo: ANI)
Critics of the move are apprehensive that the committee is the first step towards bringing a law on conversions in Maharashtra based on ‘love jihad’ – a term coined by proponents of the theory that Hindu women are being entrapped by men of other religions. Used to be. For conversion.
On 13 December, the state government issued a government resolution (GR) for the appointment of the committee under Mangal Prabhat Lodha, minister for women and child development. A registered interfaith and intercaste marriage to the ‘Inter-caste/Intercaste Marriage-Family Coordination Committee (State Level)’ and record of such couples. The data of these marriages will be sought from the Registration and Stamp Department. The committee consists of both official and non-official members.
The appointment of the committee coincides with Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement last week that the government was examining laws on inter-faith conversions in other states. Fadnavis was replying to a question about the state government’s position on a law for ‘love jihad’. BJP leaders like MLA Nitesh Rane have demanded a law against religious conversion.
This move has caused a stir. Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and MLA Jitendra Awhad questioned how the state government can interfere if two consenting adults want to marry. He asked whether the government was seeking to “re-establish the caste system” by ensuring that people only practice endogamy.
However, Lodha says the committee will help build a bridge between the couple and their families. “The scope of the committee is limited. Some men and women who enter into inter-religious marriages find that communication with their families breaks down. The committee will help couples who want to re-establish relations with their families,” he said.
Incidentally, the state government gives financial assistance to couples who marry across castes. The scheme, which has been operational since the late 1990s, covers Hindu, Jain, Lingayat and Sikh couples. At least one of the two should be from a Scheduled Caste, a Scheduled Tribe or a nomadic community.
What has raised more questions is that on December 15, the government’s proposal was amended to include only inter-religious marriages, while the provision for inter-caste marriages was dropped. This led to allegations that the government was trying to spin the debate on the issue of ‘love jihad’.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant called it “a political conspiracy and a classic example of misgovernance”. “They have no data on such marriages or a compelling reason for this decision,” he added.
Sawant told that Walker was in a live-in relationship with Poonawalla. “Will the government clarify whether live-in relationships will come under the purview of this committee?” He asked.
Advocate Vikas Shinde, a member of Pune-based voluntary group ‘Right to Love’, which counsels interfaith couples and arranges such marriages, said the state government was trying to create religious polarization by using the garb of ‘love jihad’ Is. “Initially, we thought it was meant to mediate between inter-caste/inter-religious couples and their parents. Later, he removed the reference to inter-caste marriages. So, it is clear that they want to pressurize and stop such marriages. The government wants to take the debate to the ‘love jihad’ angle, Shinde said.
Lodha, reached for comments on the revised proposal, was evasive. “We have done what we have to do. I will not comment on that. I have spoken about this in the past. I will not get involved in the issue again. The matter is over,” he said.
BJP leaders claim that the initiative is not to encroach on individual liberty, but to prevent any damage caused by ‘love jihad’. BJP MLA Ram Kadam said, comprehensive efforts are needed to stop ‘love jihad’ and this is just the first step. “There have been cases of ‘love jihad’ in Maharashtra and this committee will provide help to people trapped in such relationships.”