Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Saturday that his government will introduce the death penalty for those involved in the religious conversion of girls. He compared the proposed punishment to the existing provision for capital punishment in cases of the rape of minors. The announcement was made during an International Women’s Day event in Bhopal.
Yadav stated that the government would take a strict stance against illegal conversions and ensure stringent action against those engaging in such activities. He emphasized that the state was committed to protecting the dignity and self-respect of women. Taking to X , he declared that the Madhya Pradesh government would now include capital punishment in the Freedom of Religion Act for those involved in religious conversion.
During the event, the chief minister digitally transferred ₹1,552.73 crore to over 1.27 crore women beneficiaries under the ‘Ladli Behna Yojana,’ a financial assistance scheme. Additionally, he transferred ₹55.95 crore to 26 lakh beneficiaries under the LPG Cylinder Refill Scheme, providing a ₹450 subsidy per cylinder.
Congress leader Arif Masood raised concerns over Yadav’s announcement, urging the government to first define what constitutes forced conversion. He also pointed out the administration’s inaction in cases of missing girls in Bhopal, questioning the chief minister’s priorities. Masood cited a recent case where a girl from Itkhedi had been missing for three days, stating that while the government talks about strict action, it has yet to trace her or the accused.
The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, already prohibits religious conversions through misrepresentation, force, coercion, or fraudulent means, with provisions for imprisonment and fines for offenders. However, the move to introduce capital punishment has sparked debate, with critics arguing that religion is a matter of personal choice and such laws could be misused.
