Maharashtra forms panel to study law against forced conversions and ‘love jihad’

The panel, led by state Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Verma, comprises senior officials from key departments, including women and child welfare, minority affairs, law and judiciary, social justice, special assistance, and home affairs, reported India Today.

As per a Government Resolution (GR) issued late on Friday, the committee is tasked with recommending measures to address complaints related to forced conversions and "love jihad."

It will also study existing laws in other states and propose legal provisions accordingly.

The issue of "love jihad"—the alleged targeting of Hindu women by Muslim men for religious conversion—has been raised by the BJP-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra, particularly after the 2022 Shraddha Walkar case.

Walkar, a 27-year-old woman from Maharashtra, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala.

The opposition has strongly criticised the government's move.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule argued that matters of love and marriage are personal choices.

"I request the government to focus on real issues. Prime Minister Modi just returned from the US, and America has imposed new tariffs, which will impact our country. The government should pay attention to such matters and focus on the economic situation," Sule was quoted as saying by India Today.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi accused the government of targeting Muslims and fueling communal tensions.

"They want to give freedom for live-in relationships, but if someone over 18 wants to have an interfaith marriage or convert, they have a problem with it. There is no such thing as love jihad," Azmi said, reported India Today.

Congress leader Husain Dalwai dismissed claims of forced conversions, calling "love jihad" a fabricated narrative.

"Democracy allows everyone to follow any religion. Our country is secular, but some people want to destroy the fabric of our culture. Let them show how many cases of love jihad they have actually seen. These people want to bring Hitler’s culture into our country," he said, according to the report.

Defending the decision, BJP MLA Mangal Lodha insisted that "love jihad" cases were on the rise nationwide.

"We all saw how many pieces Shraddha Walkar was cut into. There are many such cases in Maharashtra. When we try to stop love jihad, the opposition has a problem," Lodha stated, the report added.