Madhya Pradesh minister said that a law against ‘love jihad’ would soon be in practice in order to counter the problem. This comes weeks after the Karnataka and Haryana governments said they were considering legislation against “love jihad.”

Mr. Mishra further added that a bill would be brought in the next assembly session itself to tackle ”love jihad.” He also added that there will be a provision of five years of rigorous imprisonment.

“Cases will be registered under non-bailable sections…The collaborator will also be the culprit like the main accused,” Mr Mishra said. “For voluntary conversion for marriage, it will be mandatory to apply to the collector a month in advance.”

Earlier in February this year, the Central government had notified Parliament that the term “love jihad” is not defined under any existing law and no case has been reported by any central agency. This gave rise to dissociation between the central government and the idea of rightwing religious groups who were using marriage as a weapon to convert women.

However, on November 6, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa mentioned that his government is waiting to bring in such a law against religious conversion in the name of “love jihad”.

In September this year, the High Court of Allahabad had said that religious conversion only for the purpose of marriage was not acceptable. This was in reference to its earlier order when the court refused to interfere in a couple’s petition seeking protection from their relatives who were interfering in their married life three months after their marriage.