Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday slammed the BJP over the “Love Jihad” controversy, saying it was a term manufactured by the party to divide the nation and disturb communal harmony.
With several BJP-ruled States going ahead with moves to bring in legislation on the issue, Mr. Gehlot said marriage was a matter of personal liberty and bringing a law to curb it would be “completely unconstitutional”. The BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh , Haryana and Madhya Pradesh have announced the plans to enact a restrictive law.
The senior Congress leader said in a series of tweets that such a legislation would not stand in any court of law and Jihad had “no place in love”. He said BJP leaders were creating an environment in the country where consenting adults would be at the mercy of the State.
“Marriage is a personal decision and they are putting curbs on it, which is like snatching away personal liberty,” Mr. Gehlot said. He said bringing a law on “Love Jihad” seemed to be a ploy to disrupt communal harmony, fuel social conflict and disregard constitutional provisions like the State not discriminating against citizens on any grounds.
