MUMBAI: The BJP-led Mahayuti government tabled the illegal conversion bill in the Maharashtra Assembly on Friday, with a provision of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh as a penalty.
The bill will be discussed on Monday in the state Assembly.
According to the anti-conversion bill, any individual or group wanting to convert or embrace another religion has to issue a notice 60 days in advance to the respective authorities about their conversion.
Then, the respective district collector will publish the notice and seek suggestions and objections. If any relative of the person raises objections, the police will have the right to take action against that person and others who are involved in illegal conversion.
Samajwadi Party MLAs Abu Azami and Rais Shaikh opposed this proposed bill, saying this bill is to target minority communities.
Civil society groups also opposed the anti-conversion bill, stating that this anti-constitutional bill is a threat to women's autonomy and privacy.
Maharashtra is the eleventh state in India to propose the anti-conversion bill. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu implemented the bill.
As per the proposed law, seven years' imprisonment and a Rs 5 lakh penalty have been imposed for illegal and forceful conversion in Maharashtra. If the offender is habitual and doing it for the second time, then there is ten years imprisonment and a Rs 10 lakh penalty has been proposed for the illegal and forceful conversion in the state.
As per this law, the responsibility or the burden of proving and establishing innocence is on the accused if the case is filed against him or her under this anti-conversion law.
Besides, if conversion is done with the purpose of marriage in another religion, that can be cancelled in court if it is proved that the conversion has been done illegally by alluring and false promises.
Moreover, even if the marriage takes place after the coercive conversion, the child of this couple will get the religion of their mother.
And, if it is found that the girl is a victim in this case, then the state government will extend all possible help and do the rehabilitation of the victim as well.