Love jihad is serious issue: Prabhat Lodha hails Maharashtra govt's decision of forming panel to draft law

Mumbai: Hours after the Maharashtra government formed a committee to look into various issues for framing a law on love jihad, senior BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that love jihad is a serious issue.

“Love jihad is a serious issue, and the state government is working towards preventing such incidents,” said Lodha, who serves as the Minister of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

During Maha Yuti's first term, Lodha was in charge of the Women and Child Development Department and had set up the Interfaith Marriage Coordination Committee, which played a significant role in highlighting such incidents.

Lodha also hit out at Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh and said, “The question has arisen whether Shaikh is a supporter of love jihad, as he filed a case for raising voice against it. By doing so, he indirectly supported love jihad.”

Lodha also highlighted the unfortunate incidents of love jihad that have taken place in Mumbai and surrounding areas in recent times.

"Shraddha Walkar was brutally murdered by Aftab Amin. Rupali Chandanshive was killed by Iqbal Sheikh. Poonam Kshirsagar was murdered by Nizam Khan. Yashashree Shinde from Uran was killed by Dawood Sheikh.

"Sonam Shukla from Malad tragically lost her life at the hands of Shahjib Ansari. How can one claim that love jihad is not happening when such incidents are evident before us?" Lodha said.

According to him, the committee will study the anti-love jihad and anti-conversion laws enacted by other states and will recommend drafting a law for Maharashtra.