Union Minister Ramdas Athawale opposes Maharashtra’s 'love jihad' law

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday opposed the Maharashtra governments move to draft a law to stop love jihadLove jihad is a term used by rightwing outfits to allege conspiracy by Muslim men to convert Hindu women through marriageThe Maharashtra government has issued a Government Resolution GR stating that a committee headed by the director general of police DGP will suggest steps to tackle complaints of love jihad and forced conversionsIt will also look at legal aspects and the laws framed in other states and recommend legislation to prevent such instancesIt is wrong to call interfaith unions as love jihad There should be a provision to prevent conversions Steps should be taken to prevent disruption of social and religious harmony the Union Minister for social justice and empowerment told reportersPrime Minister Narendra Modi considers everyone as equal and has initiated welfare measures for all Muslims also benefit PM Modi is against extremist Muslims and not the community the Republican Party of India A chief addedThere are intercaste marriages as well Athawale whose party is a member of the BJPled National Democratic Alliance pointed outSpeaking reporters in Nagpur earlier in the day Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said there was nothing wrong with interfaith marriages but steps need to be taken against matrimonial alliances through fraud and false identityThe CM said the Supreme Court and Kerala High Court have made observations about the reality of love jihadMeanwhile speaking on local body polls Athawale said the RPI A would contest them independently if it is not given space in the ruling Mahayuti which comprises the BJP Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawarled Nationalist Congress PartyCivic polls are due in several cities of the state since early 2022Athawale also said there was no need for the meeting between BJP MLA Suresh Dhas and NCP minister Dhananjay MundeMunde is under fire from the opposition and ruling alliance leaders including Dhas after the formers close aide Walmik Karad was arrested in an extortion case linked to the brutal murder of Beed sarpanch Deshmukh on December 9The meeting comes when the minister is facing political heat over the murder Athawale assertedOne accused in the murder case is still absconding he pointed outThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever