New Delhi:

The Bharatiya Janata Party today released its manifesto for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. The document states that the party, if it returns to power, would bring a jail term for those found guilty of indulging in ‘love jihad’.

BJP’s manifesto states that a minimum imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh would be imposed on those found guilty of committing ‘love jihad’.

Love Jihad is a a term used by some to refer to interfaith marriage between a Muslim man and Hindu girl.

The ruling BJP government in Uttar Pradesh last year passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020. Under the law, which came into effect on November 28, offenders found guilty of converting someone would be given a jail term of one to five years, along with a minimum fine of Rs 15,000.

In case, the person who has been converted is a minor, the guilty would face imprisonment for three to 10 years, and a fine of Rs 25,000.

If the conversions are found at a mass level, those guilty can be given a jail term from three to 10 years, with a minimum fine of Rs 50,000.

Launched by Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the manifesto also promises two free LPG cylinders (one each on Holi and Diwali) under the Ujjwala Yojana scheme, free public transport travel for women over 60, and free two-wheelers for female college students.

The document was released barely a couple of days before the state goes to the first phase of polling on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah claimed, “The BJP has fulfilled more than 92 per cent of 212 ‘sankalps’ (promises) made in its 2017 (poll) manifesto.” The saffron party also promised free electricity for irrigation to farmers in the next five years in the Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra 2022.