The Yogi Adityanath led UP govt. recently defended the anti-conversion law in the affidavit filed by it in the Allahabad HC stating that “since marriage is being used as an instrument to convert an individual’s religion against his/her will, the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 seeks to remedy the malady”.
While stressing that the community interest will always prevail over the individual interest, the government said that the law in challenge, seeks to protect public interest and maintain public order, and safeguards the interest of the community.
The affidavit also states that the law is identical to similar legislations that exist in at least eight states of the country.
It further states that there is ample data in public record which shows that forcible conversions have created a fear across the entire state, which in turn has warranted the need for such a legislation.
The government also stated that the petitioners are motivated by social media propagandas of ‘ghar wapsi’ and have not focused on the legal issues.
Therefore, they are misusing the process of law by filing the instant PIL and using the same as a tool for publicity.
