Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that his government will amend the law to introduce the death penalty for forced religious conversion of girls. He made this statement at an event on International Women’s Day in Bhopal.
The amendment will be made to the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. The chief minister also said that strict action would be taken against those guilty of assault, with the death penalty as a punishment.
However, after his announcement gained national attention, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) clarified that the Religious Freedom Act already exists to take action against forced conversions and deceitful marriages.
Madhya Pradesh was the first state to introduce a law against forced conversions. If this amendment is passed, it will be the first state to implement the death penalty for such an offence. The budget session of the state assembly begins on March 10, where the proposal may be discussed.
Comments