The Uttar Pradesh government is caught in a cleft stick of indecisiveness over interfaith marriage. On the one hand, it has brought a legislation banning illegal interfaith marriages, which in common parlance is called love jihad, while on the other, it has a scheme to honour interfaith marriage.
“There has been a scheme since 1977 under which interfaith marriages are incentivised. The UP government is not sure what to do with this 43-year-old scheme in the light of the new legislation — whether to scrap it or continue with it. Indications are that the government may give the four-decade-old scheme a silent burial,” a senior official told this reporter in Lucknow.
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has brought the controversial Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 last month under which interfaith marriages are punishable if it is proved that religious conversion was done under coercion. A few cases of this nature have been registered under the new legislation recently.
On the other hand, the Intercaste and Interfaith Marriage Incentive Scheme has been in place since 1977, initiated by the National Integration department in Uttar Pradesh. To avail of the scheme, an interfaith couple can apply to the district magistrate after two years of their successful marriage. After initial scrutiny the proposal is sent to the government from districts and then the government shortlists the names and the couple are awarded Rs 50,000.
In 2020, the government has shortlisted 11 couples for 2019-20 fiscal and the government is yet to honour them.
“After promulgation of the new legislation it will be difficult for the couple to come forward and ask for the government reward. The couple would be afraid of prosecution because of the new Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and I believe this innovative scheme could die a silent death,,” said CB Pandey, a former legal advisor to the Governor said.
Interestingly, Uttarakhand, the hill state which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, has retained this scheme even after it formulated a legislation against interfaith marriage.
“UP too can take a clue from Uttarakhand and retain an interfaith promotion scheme. But everything depends on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” Pandey said.