Over the last 30 days, affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have spearheaded high-intensity protests across Maharashtra. Alongside a coterie of similar Hindutva outfits, they all have a single demand – the enactment of a “love jihad” law in the state.
Their demand is legitimised by the state government, with deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis telling the state assembly on Tuesday that Maharashtra is “ready” to enact such a law “to ensure long-term protection to women”. He hastened to add that the state isn’t against “interfaith” marriages, but love jihad happens “as part of a larger design”.
