Madhya Pradesh to introduce death penalty for forced religious conversions, says CM Mohan Yadav

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced plans to introduce the death penalty for those found guilty of forced religious conversions in the state.

Speaking at an event on International Women’s Day, Yadav emphasized his government's firm stance against forced conversions, particularly in cases involving women.

"Our government is very strict against those who commit atrocities against our innocent daughters. We won’t spare those who force them. Such people should not be allowed to live. Through the Religious Freedom Act, we are working to extend the provision of the death penalty to those involved in forced conversions," he stated.

The Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act, passed on March 8, 2021, already imposes severe penalties for illegal religious conversions. The law prescribes up to 10 years in prison and hefty fines for those found guilty of converting individuals through fraud, coercion, misrepresentation, or under the pretext of marriage. Additionally, marriages conducted in violation of the law are declared void.

The announcement is in line with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) broader crackdown on what it calls ‘love jihad’— a term used to describe an alleged conspiracy by Muslim men to convert Hindu women through marriage. Similar laws exist in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, while Maharashtra has established a panel to explore potential legislation on the matter.

To mark Women's Day, Yadav symbolically handed over key responsibilities of his office, including security and transportation, to women.

"On the occasion of Women's Day, all my office duties, including driving and security, have been assigned to women. The state government is running multiple initiatives aimed at empowering women and improving their lives," he said.