Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Proposes Tough Love Jihad Law to Combat Social Media Deception
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/5th August 2024
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that his government is working on drafting a new law aimed at combating what he terms “love jihad.” This proposed legislation is designed to impose stricter penalties on individuals who deceive women by hiding their true identities, particularly on social media platforms.
During a recent statement, Sarma detailed the motivations behind the new law. He claimed that the current trend of “love jihad” in Assam involves individuals using Hindu names on social media to attract and marry women under false pretenses. According to Sarma, once married, the truth about the individual’s identity often comes to light, leaving the women in a vulnerable position. To address this issue, the Assam government plans to introduce legislation that would enforce severe punishment for those who engage in such deceitful practices.
The new law, according to Sarma, will propose life imprisonment as the maximum sentence for offenders involved in love jihad. This stringent measure aims to deter individuals from impersonating others and engaging in fraudulent relationships. The Chief Minister emphasized that the new legislation is a response to a growing number of cases over the past few years where victims have suffered due to such deceptive practices.
In addition to the love jihad law, the Assam government is considering another legislative measure that would require state approval for land transactions between different communities. Sarma highlighted concerns about demographic changes and the impact on local communities, including Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). The proposed law would restrict land sales to ensure that members of these communities sell their property only to others within their respective groups, aiming to preserve their demographic and cultural integrity.
Sarma also touched upon plans to amend the Waqf bill and introduce a domicile rule that would reserve government jobs for natives of Assam. These measures are intended to address various socio-political and economic concerns in the state.
The proposed changes come amid ongoing discussions about community rights, land ownership, and social cohesion in Assam. Sarma’s administration is positioning these legislative moves as necessary steps to protect the rights of local communities and ensure fairness in social and economic dealings.
Overall, the introduction of the love jihad law represents a significant shift in Assam’s approach to handling issues of identity deception and marriage fraud. By implementing tougher penalties and revising existing laws, the state government aims to uphold justice and maintain social order in an evolving demographic landscape.
