BK Singh
Love Jehad would now entail a life term in Jail. Those who deceive or force a person to change the religion of others will be behind bars for all their lives. A much harsher and stricter law in this context is in the offing in the state of Uttar Pradesh where many forced conversions have been reported.
Till now, the law provided a sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of fifty thousand against the offenders.
In case of foreign funding, the jail sentence could range from seven to fourteen years and a minimum fine of ten lakh.
On the first day of the monsoon session in the state assembly in Uttar Pradesh, an upgraded version of the law of conversion was presented.
Such persons who threaten another person by any means to get their religious conversion done, attack or promise to marry, enter into a conspiracy, or smuggle a minor or a woman, the offense committed by them would come in the category of a serious offense.
In such cases, the accused would either serve fourteen years in jail which could go up to twenty years.
The courts under such circumstances would determine the cost of treatment and rehabilitation of the victimto be realized by the accused.
Earlier, in the case of religious conversions, only parents or relatives were entitled to lodge the FIR. Now under the broader concept, any person would be able to lodge such an FIR.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Aditya Nath who had been much in the news in the past against such conversions is the person behind the enactment of this needed anti-conversion law.