Assam government to introduce laws against ‘land jihad’ and ‘love jihad’

In Assam, individuals wishing to purchase property across communal lines will require government approval

August 5, 2024

Will curb land sale to Muslims, law soon for life term in ‘love jihad’ cases: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Sunday that the state government plans to introduce two new laws aimed at addressing what he described as ‘land jihad‘ and ‘love jihad‘.

Addressing an extended session of the BJP’s state and executive meeting, Sarma revealed that the proposed legislation will criminalize ‘love jihad’ with a penalty of life imprisonment.

The term ‘love jihad’ refers to the practice of Muslim men converting Hindu women to Islam through marriage.

Under the new laws, individuals wishing to purchase property across communal lines will require government approval. Specifically, Sarma stated that if a Muslim wants to buy Hindu property, or vice versa, government permission will be mandatory.

The Chief Minister indicated that these legislative proposals are expected to be presented during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assam Assembly later this month.

CM Sarma “If a Muslim individual wants to buy a Hindu’s property or a Hindu person wants to buy a Muslim’s property (in Assam), they would have to get permission from the government. Those practicing ‘love jihad’ would be punished with life imprisonment.”

“We would protect the rights of Assamese one by one. The more Congress tries to shake us, the more we would progress steadily. At one time, 30 percent reservation was given to a particular community in police constable jobs,” CM Sarma said.

Saying that the proposed laws intended to stop inter-religious transfers of land, he reiterated that “during the recent elections, we cleared the position on love jihad”.

“One special community is taking away the land of indigenous people of Assam. We would bring a law that our land would not be sold to a special community. The land which is left with indigenous and backward people would not be transferred ever,” Sarma pointed out.

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