Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the Left Front Government in Kerala for failing to take any constructive steps to stop religious conversion by marriage, which he called “love jihad” in the state.
Although the Kerala High Court made comments against the practice of religious conversion in 2009, the state government has not yet done anything to check it, he claimed.
Uttar Pradesh has introduced legislation to regulate “love jihad” and forceful conversions, Mr. Adityanath said after the inauguration of the state-wide “Vijay Yatra” led by BJP State Unit President K Surendran before the Kerala Assembly elections expected to take place in April-May.
“In 2009, the Kerala High Court had said the love jihad would turn Kerala into an Islamic state. Despite this, the state government is sleeping,” the UP Chief Minister alleged.
“Love Jihad” is a term used by right-wing leaders to refer to the alleged practice of Muslims forcing Hindu girls to convert in the guise of love.
BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have recently introduced religious freedom laws to stop conversion by marriage or by any other fraudulent means.
Mr. Adityanath also criticized the Kerala government for increasing the positive cases of COVID-19 and claimed that his state had effectively addressed the pandemic.
The 15-day Vijay Yatra, which covers all major electoral districts in 14 districts of Kerala, is seen as the official launch of the BJP poll campaign.
Various union ministers and BJP leaders and national star campaigners are expected to join the yatra in the coming days.
