Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi December 29 hit out at BJP governments in the states for bringing ordinances against religious conversion through fraudulent means, including those for the sake of marriage, claiming they violate the fundamental rights under the Constitution.
He also called the Centre’s farm laws “draconian” and dared the Narendra Modi government to come out with laws on providing Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the farmers and employment.
Mr Owaisi said an adult can marry anyone they want and alleged the intention of the BJP behind the laws against religious conversions was to make a mockery of the Constitution.
He was referring to recent ordinance by the Uttar Pradesh government against forcible or “dishonest” religious conversions and the Madhya Pradesh cabinet giving its nod for a similar measure today.
“These laws and ordinances issued and given nod by some BJP ruled states are against the Constitution and the BJP is creating an atmosphere of hate for the Muslim community,” the Hyderabad MP told reporters.
He claimed that such laws are a blatant violation of Article 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution related to right to equality, right to life and personal liberty and right to freedom of religion respectively.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/laws-against-religious-conversions-against-constitution-aimim-chief-asaduddin-owaisi-2345288
Will grooms from minority communities agree to let their brides retain their faith? They may in the beginning but some point in time the pressure imposed by society is huge that they have no alternative but to convert unless the lady is rich enough to say “to hell with your faith” and then walk out. The law may sound as challenging fundamental rights but I believe that the law is aimed at abuse and misuse of rights.
Changing religion just for the sake of marriage is not correct. The couple should marry under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.
Well said. These laws are not just unconstitutional, they are also inhuman.
Every fair minded person will agree that an adult has freedom to choose his/ her partner in life. Even if it is considered good or advantageous to marry from the same religion, community, caste,tribe, no Govt. has power to question the choice of a person. No force of any type is permissible for marriages according the existing laws. If a girl or boy is forced to marry or forced to change religion or way of life, it is illegal and can be challenged in court. So if such force is used, the aggrieved party is free to proceed against it. But the Govts. Like that of U.P. and M.P. Presume the existence of force in every mixed marriage and made laws to punish the couple who married on their own free will — and the free will and right to live in any faith they choose including atheism. There were few reports that the parents of the boy and girl had no objection.