On Wednesday, February 24, in the midst of protest from opposition groups, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed by voice vote a bill to curb religious conversions.
The bill seeks to curtail religious conversions, including marriage, by fake or any other undue means.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Illegal Conversion of Religion Bill, 2021 seeks to replace last November’s decree providing for up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 for violators, The Indian Express reported.
According to the bill, if the conversion is purely for that purpose, a marriage would be deemed,’ null and void” and those wanting to change their religion after marriage needs to appeal to the district magistrate.
The bill mainly states that, through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, intimidation, attraction, attraction, no person can either directly or indirectly convert from one religion to another.
The onus would be on the person accused of the act to show that, it said, the conversion was not carried out violently.
As per the bill, on such conversion, an aggrieved individual, his/her parents, brother, sister, or any other person related to him/her by blood, marriage or adoption may lodge a FIR.