Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has declared that his government will introduce the death penalty for individuals found guilty of forcibly converting girls to another religion.
Speaking at an event in Bhopal on International Women’s Day, Yadav emphasized the state’s commitment to stringent laws against such acts. “After the provision of the death penalty for the rape of girls, now a provision for the death penalty will be made in Madhya Pradesh for those who convert girls,” he stated.
This proposal involves amending the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, which currently mandates up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000 for coerced religious conversions carried out through fraud, force, or misrepresentation. If the amendment is enacted, Madhya Pradesh would become the first state to enforce the death penalty for this offense.
His statement comes at a time when “love jihad,” an unproven conspiracy theory propagated by Hindu nationalists and far-right Hindu groups accusing Muslim men of coercing Hindu women into conversion through marriage, has been increasingly used to fuel Islamophobia and incite violence against Muslims in India.
Following the announcement, the Chief Minister’s Office issued a statement reinforcing the government’s stance on religious conversions and crimes against women. “The Religious Freedom Act is in force in Madhya Pradesh to take strict action against those who forcefully or by luring people to marry or convert their religion,” the statement read. Officials further stressed, “The culprits will be given the death penalty. No culprit will be spared under any circumstances.”
Yadav also reiterated his government’s strict measures against sexual crimes and religious conversions, saying, “The government is tough in cases of rape of minors. There is a provision for the death penalty for it. Our government will not spare those who forcefully or fraudulently outrage their modesty. Similarly, those who carry out religious conversions will get capital punishment.” The amendment is expected to be tabled during the budget session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, which begins on March 10.
The proposed law has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, with Congress leader Arif Masood questioning the government’s definition of “forced conversion.” “First, the chief minister should clarify what forced conversion means. Also, there are still missing girls in Bhopal. Recently, a girl from Itkhedi went missing, and her family has been in distress for the past three days. The CM talks about strict action, but he has yet to locate her or the accused,” Masood remarked.
State Congress President Jitu Patwari accused the government of failing to curb crimes against women, alleging that four lakh women have disappeared from Madhya Pradesh in the last five to six years. He further stated, “One hundred women are raped in the state every day, out of which only 20 report the incidents. Eighty daughters don’t even report it.”
