The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step towards enacting a law against forced religious conversions and alleged cases of "love jihad." A seven-member committee has been set up to examine the legal framework and suggest measures to address such cases.
This panel is headed by the state’s Director General of Police, Sanjay Verma, and includes senior officials from various departments, such as women and child welfare, law and judiciary, social justice, minority affairs, special assistance, and home affairs.
According to a Government Resolution issued late on Friday, the committee will study existing laws in other states and recommend suitable legal provisions for Maharashtra.
The issue of "love jihad" has been a subject of political and social debate, with the ruling BJP-led coalition raising concerns about cases where Muslim men allegedly lure Hindu women into conversion through marriage.
The discussion gained momentum after the Shraddha Walkar case, in which the 27-year-old woman from Maharashtra was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her live-in partner, Aaftab Poonawala, in 2022.
The decision to form the committee has sparked strong reactions from opposition parties. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule criticised the move, stating that love and marriage are personal choices.
She urged the government to focus on economic issues instead of matters that divert attention from real concerns.
Sule pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States coincided with new American tariffs that could affect India, yet the government was prioritising "love jihad" over economic challenges.
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi also opposed the decision, accusing the government of targeting Muslims and promoting communal divisions.
He argued that while live-in relationships are permitted, the government seems to have a problem with interfaith marriages or conversions made by consenting adults.
Azmi dismissed the concept of "love jihad" as baseless and claimed that such measures infringe on individual freedoms.
Congress leader Husain Dalwai expressed similar concerns, asserting that forced conversions do not take place and that "love jihad" is a manufactured issue. He emphasised that India is a secular nation where everyone has the right to choose their religion.
Dalwai accused the ruling party of attempting to impose an authoritarian mindset, comparing their approach to that of Hitler’s regime. He challenged the government to provide concrete evidence of widespread forced conversions.
In contrast, the BJP has strongly defended the formation of the committee. BJP MLA Mangal Lodha insisted that "love jihad" cases are rising across the country and need urgent attention.
Referring to the Shraddha Walkar case, he argued that there have been multiple such incidents in Maharashtra, making it necessary to introduce legal safeguards. Lodha criticised the opposition for opposing efforts to tackle the issue, claiming that their stance undermines public safety.
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