Define love jihad legally first: Shiv Sena on anti-conversion law

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday said "Love Jihad" needs to be first defined legally, and BJP leaders should come out of the "illusion"" that they can trouble the Maharashtra government by harping on the issue.

Without taking any name, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said BJP's Minister of State for Home Affairs earlier this year said in Parliament that the concept of "Love Jihad" has no place in law and till now no case has been reported by central agencies in this connection.

"Hence, the legal definition of 'Love Jihad' needs to be decided first," the editorial said.

Referring to the short-lived BJP-NCP government formed in Maharashtra a year ago when Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar took oath as chief minister and Dy CM, respectively, in a ceremony held at dawn in Raj Bhavan, the editorial termed it as "love jihad".

That government collapsed within 80 hours of its formation. Later, the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress came together and formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Some BJP-ruled states have announced plans to prevent the so-called "love jihad", a term coined by right-wing activists to describe an alleged conspiracy to convert Hindu women to Islam by marrying them.

Devendra Fadnavis had last week said that incidents of "love Jihad" were taking place in the country and therefore, laws to curb the practice were justified.

"BJP leaders should come out of the illusion that they can trouble the Maharashtra government by harping on the issue of 'love jihad'," the editorial said.

"Hindutva needs to be protected at all levels and "not just when it comes to marriages and elections", it said and also pitched for bringing in the Uniform Civil Code.

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