Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that the proposed law aimed at curbing “love-jihad” will include a clause allowing the arrest of the parents of the male accused.
After a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Sarma announced that several key bills, including measures against polygamy and a law addressing love-jihad, would be introduced in the upcoming session of the Assam Assembly.
“We want to save our women from traps where they become victims of love-jihad and polygamy. We are bringing stringent laws, and the parents of the male accused in love-jihad cases will also be liable for arrest under the new law,” he said on Friday.
Sarma made the comments during a cheque distribution ceremony for a women’s empowerment scheme in Lakhipur, Cachar district. He also stated that women who have more than three children will not be eligible for such government welfare schemes.
“Some people say that Allah gives them children, so they cannot stop giving birth. I say, give birth as many as you wish, but do not expect government help to raise them or to send them to government schools,” he said.
Speaking about the proposed anti-polygamy law, Sarma noted that multiple marriages by men often cause significant harm to women. “Under the new law, if a man marries more than one woman, he will face up to seven years’ imprisonment,” he said.
Sarma also addressed concerns regarding reports that 19 villages in Cachar district were being transferred to Dima Hasao under a peace agreement signed on April 27, 2023, between the Dimasa National Liberation Army, the Government of India, and the Government of Assam.
“This is a rumour circulated by political parties such as the Congress. Today, on behalf of the Assam government, I assure everyone that not a single village from Cachar district is going to Dima Hasao,” he said.
Responding to activist Medha Patkar’s recent remarks on the investigation into singer Zubeen Garg’s death and the state’s eviction drives, the chief minister said that outsiders do not understand the struggles of Assam’s indigenous people and should avoid interfering in state matters.
“One community is trying to grab our land, and trying to take away our sisters through tricks like love-jihad. People like Medha Patkar won’t see that. If she comes here to protest against evictions, we will take strict action,” he added.
