BJP Leader Nitesh Rane Pushes for Anti-Conversion Law in Maharashtra
BJP leader Nitesh Rane announced plans to meet with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to advocate for the implementation of an anti-conversion law in the state. Rane cited increasing instances of ‘Love Jihad’ and religious conversions as the driving force behind this initiative.
‘We will soon meet the CM (Eknath Shinde) and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and urge them to bring an anti-conversion law in Maharashtra amid the rising cases of Love Jihad and conversion here,’ Rane said.
This statement comes after the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which gives a maximum punishment of life imprisonment in cases of forced or fraudulent conversion. The bill was passed to make the anti-conversion laws in the state more strict. Earlier, the maximum sentence under the act was a 10-year imprisonment term.
As per the Bill, there will be serious penalties, including up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment for any act of threatening, attacking, marrying, promising to marry, conspiring, or trafficking a woman, minor, or anyone else with the intention of converting.
Congress leader Aradhana Mishra clarified that the bill is not a new law but merely an enhancement of existing penalties related to unlawful conversions. ‘This bill is not in relation to conversion of any religion. This is not a new law. Only the punishment has been increased,’ Mishra said.
Reacting to the bill’s passage, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of politicizing the issue to distract from developmental work. ‘What do you expect from them (BJP)? They have to keep politics entangled in this. They are only doing politics because they don’t want to develop,’ Yadav remarked.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Nitesh Rane -: Nitesh Rane is a politician from Maharashtra and a member of the BJP.
Anti-Conversion Law -: An anti-conversion law is a rule that makes it harder for people to change their religion, especially if they are forced or tricked into doing so.
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in western India. Its capital is Mumbai.
Chief Minister -: The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India. Eknath Shinde is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Deputy Chief Minister -: The Deputy Chief Minister is the second-in-command in the state government. Devendra Fadnavis is the current Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Love Jihad -: Love Jihad is a term used by some people to describe a situation where they believe someone is pretending to be in love to make another person change their religion.
Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly -: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly is a group of elected people who make laws for the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Congress -: Congress is another major political party in India. Aradhana Mishra is a leader from this party.
Samajwadi Party -: The Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. Akhilesh Yadav is the chief of this party.