Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya

Mandya, Dec 3: BJP leader and state revenue minister R Ashoka on Wednesday said that the Karnataka government is 'determined' to ban Love Jihad in the state. "Love Jihad is a threat to women in Karnataka," the minister said addressing the press in Mandya. He slammed Congress leader Siddaramaiah for opposing the ban on 'Love Jihad'. “Who is Siddaramaiah to stop us from banning Love Jihad? It is the BJP government, which is in power. We are very sure about our decision to ban it,” he said.

Earlier in the week, the former chief minister of the state, Siddaramaiah had met a delegation of members from the Muslim community who expressed fear of persecution if the government introduces legislation banning ‘Love Jihad'.

“Love is different. Love Jihad is different. Muslim men make women from other faiths fall in love and marry them. They get married two or three more times in the same year. This is done to force women to convert to Islam. This is Love Jihad. We will stop it at any cost. We will ban Love Jihad and we will send those who are doing this to jail,” R Ashoka said.

Opposing the proposed ban, Siddaramaiah said, “If such a law is passed, we will take it to the court. The law will get dismissed in court as it is unconstitutional. If the government goes ahead with bringing in such a law despite it being against the constitution, it will prove the true intentions of the government. This is BJP's wicked intent to disturb peace in the society,” Siddaramaiah had said.

There has been constant stir around the topic of Love Jihad in the state. Right-wing groups have deemed the law against the religious conversion a necessity in the state. Even the chief minister (CM) B S Yediyurappa said that his government would bring in legislation very soon to ban religious conversion for the sake of marriage. Concurring with the CM, Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai too had said the government was considering such legislation.

Meanwhile, law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy said that no such proposal to ban religious conversion for the sake of marriage has been put forth on the government’s agenda for the winter session of the Assembly. He said that if a proposal does come forth, then he would announce it. “So far no such proposal is there. Siddaramaiah is assuming that such a bill will be introduced during the winter session because he is a member of the scrutiny committee. He is just guessing,” Madhuswamy said.