Days after ‘love jihad’ law in Uttar Pradesh, cops stop inter-faith wedding in Lucknow
The police action was based on complaints they received from members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a right-wing youth outfit founded by Chief Minister Adityanath.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Police stopped an interfaith wedding in Lucknow, saying the couple did not complete legal formalities, days after the state govt promulgated a stringent anti-conversion law
The wedding was supposed to take place on Wednesday in Lucknow’s Para area.
“On 2 December, we received information that a girl from one community was wanting to get married to a boy from another other community. We called both sides to the police station and handed them a copy of the new unlawful conversion ordinance and both sides have given written consent that as per law, they will inform the DM (District Magistrate) and get his permission before moving ahead with things,” Suresh Chandra Rawat, a senior Lucknow police officer, told the media.
The police action was based on complaints they received from members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a right-wing youth outfit founded by Chief Minister Adityanath.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, on November 28, had given assent to the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020.
The law provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 under various categories of forcible or fraudulent religious conversions.