Despite mounting criticisms, Yogi Adityanath's government in Uttar Pradesh approved a very controversial ordinance on 24 November – which is seemingly against unlawful religious conversions, but has been repackaged as a way to combat ‘love jihad’. This law declares marriages after a conversion without permission to be null and void.
As much as ‘love jihad’ continues to be an unproven conspiracy – not just in UP but in India, generally – this law provides up to five years of rigorous imprisonment and Rs 15,000, as penalty. But the punishment is stricter for 'conversions' of minors and women of the SC/ST communities. It comes with up to 10 years of imprisonment and Rs 25,000 as penalty.