Maharashtra Forms Committee to Draft ‘Love Jihad’ Law

The Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has set up a special seven-member committee to draft a law against ‘love jihad.’ The panel, headed by Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla, will examine legal and technical aspects of alleged forced religious conversions linked to interfaith relationships.

The move follows similar legislation in Uttar Pradesh and other states. According to a government resolution issued on Friday, the committee will review complaints, assess existing laws in other states, and recommend necessary legal provisions for Maharashtra.

Apart from the DGP, the panel includes officials from key departments such as women and child development, minority development, law and judiciary, social justice, special assistance, and home affairs. The resolution states that public representatives, social organizations, and citizens have raised concerns over "love jihad" and fraudulent conversions, demanding legal measures to address the issue.

“Various organizations and citizens have submitted representations seeking a law to prevent love jihad and forced conversions. Several states have already enacted similar legislation,” the government order stated. However, no deadline has been set for the committee to submit its report.

Chief Minister Fadnavis has been a strong proponent of such a law, previously claiming that over one lakh complaints of forced religious conversions had been received. He alleged a deliberate conspiracy, accusing Muslim men of deceiving Hindu women into marriage using fake identities.

The decision has sparked debate, with supporters arguing it will protect women from coercion, while critics see it as an attempt to police interfaith relationships and target specific communities. Similar laws in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and other states have faced legal challenges and concerns over misuse.