The Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on Tuesday, July 30. This bill enhances the punishment for forced conversions, increasing the penalty from 10 years with a fine of ₹50,000 to life imprisonment for deceiving a woman into marriage or converting her religion.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna introduced the bill in the House on Monday.
The amendment stipulates that if an individual threatens, attacks, marries, promises to marry, conspires, or traffics a woman, minor, or anyone with the intent to convert them, the offense will be considered among the most serious. Those found guilty could face up to 20 years imprisonment or life imprisonment.
Previously, the bill required the presence of the victim, her parents, or siblings to file a complaint about a conversion case. The amended provisions now allow any person to register an FIR in such cases.
All conversion cases will be heard by courts no lower than the Sessions Court, and bail pleas will not be considered without an opportunity for the public prosecutor to be heard. All crimes under the amended act have been made non-bailable.
The Opposition, including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), has accused the Yogi Adityanath-led government of diverting attention from main issues.
“What else do they have, they are not doing anything new,” said a spokesperson from the Samajwadi Party when asked about the bill outside Parliament.
Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar criticized the government, stating, “The government is unable to fulfill the basic needs of people. They are unable to provide food, shelter, housing, good health, and good education, but they are focused on such issues because it suits them. For us, employment and price rise are the real issues, and we are working on those.”
