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“Ram naam satya journey for people who practice love jihad”- Yogi Adityanath

With a hint of threat in his speech, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath said that the “journey” of “ram Naam Satya” will begin for the ones involved in “love jihad”. The statement was made while also quoting an order passed by the Allahabad High Court regarding the conversion of religion solely for the purpose of marriage. “Ram Naam Satya” are the verses chanted during Hindu funerals.

“If you don’t mend your ways, ‘Ram Naam Satya’ (the chant associated with Hindu funerals) journey will begin,” he said, adding that the administration will “make sure sisters, daughters are protected. We will go to every extent to make this operation a success.”

Yogi Adityanath further gave a warning to people “who will play will our sisters’ respect” to refrain from doing so as the government will soon pass an official law to stop the “love jihad”.

The speech, made in Jaunpur at his by-polls rally for fetching eight Assembly seats, had the audience witness him saying, “Allahabad High Court has said religious conversion isn’t necessary for marriage. The government will work to curb “love jihad“. We will make law. I warn those who conceal their identity and play with our sisters’ respect.”

The current Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh has been highly criticized and slammed for the obnoxious crimes being committed in the state against women. With at least one crime getting reported each day from the region, the administration has been held guilty by the citizens for not protecting the women. Moreover, the recent incidences of the alleged rape of two women belonging to the Dalit section of the society with no initial investigation until there were nationwide protests over it have stirred the ongoing controversies.

The CM spoke about his “Mission Shakti” plans again that aim to “make sure all sisters and daughters are protected”.

Love-Jihad” is a word coined by people of the right-wing directed towards their unacceptability of a marriage between a Muslim man and Hindu woman. According to these right-wing groups, the marriage is just a way for the Muslims to convert the women forcibly, against their wish.

However, the government refused to adopt its ownership, in its first-ever official declaration.

In February, the Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy cited Article 25 of the constitution. He said the article allows its citizens to acknowledge, practice, and preach their respective religion subject to public order, morality, and health.

In response to a written questionnaire sent to him, the Minister said, “The term ‘Love Jihad’ is not defined under the extant laws. No such case of ‘Love Jihad’ has been reported by any of the central agencies.”

Even though the Kerala High Court confirmed this opinion, two cases of “inter-faith” marriage were probed by the NIA in the state. Kerala also filed many cases of elopement and labeled them as “love jihad”.

Yet, “love jihad” has been a brewing topic for many in recent times. It has also been used during election campaigns to bag votes with the Assam BJP beginning its rallies with the subject of girls of Assam “falling prey to love jihad”.

After the Tanishq ad showing the cultural unity of people was mended and accused of propagating “love jihad”, the NCW head Rekha Sharma and the governor of Maharashtra had a meeting in which the two spoke about the “rise of love jihad cases”. Both were criticized for their choice of words and topics by many people.

In the latter half of October, the Allahabad Court rejected the plea of a married couple for attaining protection from their relatives’ “coercive actions” aimed to disrupt their marriage.

Although the court did not mention “love jihad”, it said that as the woman was a born Muslim and converted to a Hindu just a month prior to the wedding, it directly means that the conversion resulted only for the sake of getting married.

The court quoted its earlier order from 2014 that mentioned such conversions to be void.