Assam will soon introduce a ‘love jihad’ law with life imprisonment penalties and a new domicile policy limiting state jobs to residents born in Assam.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced significant changes in the state’s legal framework during a BJP executive meeting in Guwahati on Sunday. The state government is set to propose new laws targeting “love jihad” and implement a new domicile policy.
The proposed ‘love jihad’ law will impose life imprisonment for those found guilty of deceitful or coerced religious conversions through marriage. This measure aims to tackle what Sarma described as a critical issue affecting the state’s demographics. The bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session of the Assam Assembly later this month.
Additionally, the new domicile policy will restrict eligibility for state government jobs to individuals born in Assam. This policy is part of a broader effort to manage population growth and safeguard the interests of Assam’s indigenous communities. Sarma emphasized that these changes are crucial for addressing the challenges posed by shifting demographics.
The new laws come amid ongoing discussions about illegal immigration and the recognition of Bengali-speaking Bangladeshi Muslims, known as ‘Miya,’ as indigenous to Assam.