Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, July 30 (HBTV): In a controversial move, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly has passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2024, so called the “anti-love jihad law.”      

The law was introduced on Monday in the House and was passed in the assembly on Tuesday during the monsoon session proceedings.   

Under the amended provisions, if a person threatens, attacks, marries, or promises to marry or conspires for it; or engages in trafficking women, minor or anyone with the intention of conversion, his crime will be placed in the most serious category. The amended bill provides for 20-year imprisonment or life imprisonment in such cases.

Earlier, a maximum punishment of 10 years and a fine of INR 50,000 was set.

Now any person can register a complaint for conversion cases.  

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna introduced the bill in the House on Monday.

The Opposition slammed the Uttar Pradesh government over the bill that seeks to amend the Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, accusing it of trying to divert people's attention through communal politics.