Amid the outrage over Ballabhgarh “love jehad” murder case, Haryana Chief Minister on Sunday said that the State Government is considering legal provisionsagainst it to ensure “the guilty cannot escape”.
The development came a day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that his Government would bring an “effective law” against “love jehad”, a slur politically used by the Hindu right-wing for inter-faith relationships and marriages involving a Muslim man.
Citing the recent murder of a 21-year-old college student, Nikita Tomar in Faridabad’s Ballabhgarh, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal said, “This (Ballabhgarh) incident needs to be strongly condemned. This incident is being linked with the love jehad issue... Both the Centre and the State Government are taking the love jehad issue very seriously.”
“The Centre and the State Government are looking into this and legal advice is being taken so that such incidents are not repeated. Legal provisions are being contemplated so that the guilty cannot escape and no innocent person is punished,” he said while talking to the mediapersons in Karnal.
Last week, Nikita was shot dead outside her college in Haryana’s Ballabgarh by two men. The CCTV footage of the murder had gone viral and sparked outrage. Her family had alleged she was killed because she refused to convert to Islam and marry the accused. The family has demanded capital punishment for the accused and asked the State Government to give them a security cover.
Speaking on the issue, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Sunday said that the State may have a law against “love jehad”.
“There is a demand from various quarters to bring legislation on this. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has also announced to bring an effective law on “love jehad”, Vij said while talking to the mediapersons in Ambala.
We will take legal advice and also talk to the Uttar Pradesh Government regarding the issue. Parents of Nikita have alleged “love jehad” angle in the murder case and it is a serious issue, Vij added.
Notably, UP Chief Minister Adityanath had on Saturday said his government would come out with a law to deal with “love jehad” and used the Hindu funeral chant 'Ram Naam Satya Hai' to threaten those who don't respect their daughters and sisters.
He had said that posters would be put up of those involved in "love jehad".
Commenting on Adityanath’s statement, Vij opined what Adityanath said on “love jehad” was right. To save daughters, it is necessary to deal with this issue, he added.
Earlier, the Haryana Government had set up a special investigation team to probe the murder case. The police have arrested three men in the case including the main accused, Tauseef.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in Ballabgarh on Sunday after a panchayat meeting was called in support of the woman’s family. Following the mahapanchayat, protesters blocked a highway and allegedly attacked police vehicles. The police also resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd. The issue of Nikita murder case is likely to be raised in the Haryana Assembly session, scheduled to begin on November 5.
Notably, “love jehad” is the term the Central Government has disowned. In February, the Centre had told the Parliament the term was not defined under existing laws and no case had been reported by any central agency.