Kathmandu, December 28. The government of Madhya Pradesh in India has approved anti-conversion laws, which is said to punish people who ‘force’ for religious conversions.

Madhya Pradesh has BJP as the ruling party and claims that these laws, known as love-jihad laws will help Hindu women who are forced to convert into Islam by their Muslim husbands. The official statement has said that those wishing to convert must inform two months earlier, otherwise their marriage will be considered null and void under the new law.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has said, “The bill includes a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in jail and up to 100,000 Indian rupees [$1,358] in fine, with the burden of proof virtually falling on the accused and those associated with the accused, including organisations and institutions.”

Muskan and her husband Rashid were on their way to register their marriage in Uttar Pradesh a few weeks ago when the police arrested the husband. Muskan also was made to work tirelessly after which she suffered a miscarriage. Harsh Mander, a rights activist has said, “What we’re witnessing … is the complete demolition of everything that the constitution promised.”

Ever since BJP came into power in 2014, they have been promoting ‘Hindutva’ and have been claiming that Muslim men have been luring Hindu women into religious conversions in the name of love. Leaders of Bajrang Dal have been claiming that they are conducting “awareness campaigns” for their mothers and sisters to aware them about the “smooth talking men”. The leaders of Bajrang Dal have been time and again accused of harrasing couples on Valentine’s day and intimidating them in the name of religion.

Previously, Uttar Pradesh had implemented similar laws under which a Muslim man was arrested for reportedly forcing a Hindu woman to convert her religion.