BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh recently enacted laws banning `fraudulent' conversions through marriage, following which The Gujarat Assembly also on Thursday passed a Bill to amend the 'Dharma Swatantrya' (Freedom of Religion) Act, 2003 which aims to combat forceful religious conversions, better known as 'Love Jihad', on the concluding day of the Budget session. The Bill was tabled in the state Assembly by Legislative Affairs Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja.

The amendment seeks to prohibit and punish religious conversion promising better lifestyle, divine blessings and impersonation on the pretext of marriage.

However, the opposition Congress questioned its intentions and dubbed the bill as a tool to attain political mileage and create religious divide.

The Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 sought to deal with religious conversion through allurement, force or by misrepresentation or by any other fraudulent means. However, the state government felt that there were episodes of religious conversion promising better lifestyle, divine blessings and impersonation.

"The state government feels that there is an emerging trend where women are lured to marriage for the purpose of religious conversion," cited the BJP government as the reason to bring in this amendment.

"By bringing in this new amendment Bill, the state government is admitting that the 2003 'Dharma Swatantrya' (Freedom of Religion) Act has proven meaningless and even after 17 years of framing that law, you (BJP) have to bring this Bill. There is not a single mention of 'Love Jihad' in this Bill," said Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani.

K Surendran: Christians also believe 'Love Jihad' a serious issue in Kerala

Tamil Nadu Election: DMK leader A Raja banned from campaigning, gets punished for this mistake

PM Modi's new slogan in response to 'Khela Hobe'- 'Blood games won't run'