10-year jail, Rs 1 lakh fine for love jihad, says BJP's UP manifesto

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday promised 10-year punishment and Rs 1 lakh fine for those indulging in love jihad if it returns to power in Uttar Pradesh.

The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the release of the election manifesto titled Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra 2022 for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

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, 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.

If cane payment is not made in 14 days to farmers, the sugarmills then have to pay the dues with interest, the manifesto said.

It said one ”well-equipped” government hospital will be built in every district of the state.

In the next five years, the government will strengthen wheat and paddy purchase at Minimum Support Price, the BJP said.

To make meritorious girl students self-reliant, free scooters will be given to them under the Rani Laxmibai Yojana, it said.

Under the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Shashaktikaran Yojana, two crore tablets and smartphones will be given, said the manifesto.

The General Bipin Rawat Defence Industrial Corridor in Bundelkhand will be completed in record time, it said.