BJP Leader Padalkar Demands Law To Prevent Love Jihad

Mumbai: Worried about forced conversions in rural Maharashtra and growing cases of Love Jihad, BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar demanded anti-conversion law in the Legislative Council. He requested the government to take the cases seriously and prevent conversions.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Padalkar said from the past two-three months, Hindu Garjana group has been organizing protests across the state against love jihad and cow slaughter. “We have heard love jihad incidents in urban areas. But the cases are happening in my Aatpadi village in Sangli district too. A patient who came for treatment was forced to convert and the video went viral,” he said.

Narrating another example, the BJP MLC said a boy from the Hindu Walmiki community was forced to convert in Daund tehsil. He refused. So, one Qureshi forcefully circumcised him. Initially, the police did not take action. However, his wife Samina Qureshi made a complaint and said Hindu women are converted at a large scale. Now Qureshi has been booked but his supporters are still roaming free. He has even beaten up Samina’s sister for the complaint. This is a very dangerous trend,” he said.

Requesting a strict law against forced conversions, Padalkar demanded the government look into the matter seriously. “These incidents are repeatedly happening and Hindus are being targeted for forced conversions and women are being victimised under love jihad. I request the government to have a strict law to prevent these efforts,” Padalkar said.

Maharashtra has been witnessing protests from right-wing organisations against love jihad and cow slaughter. The protests are taking place across the state at district level demanding stringent law to deal with the matter.