BJP’s proposed ‘polygamy’ and ‘love jihad’ laws in Assam spark outrage
CM Sharma threatens to impose seven years in prison for second marriages
Guwahati: In India’s Assam state, the BJP government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has drawn sharp criticism for proposing new laws to criminalize polygamy and so-called “love jihad” — measures widely seen as part of a communal campaign targeting Muslims.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Chief Minister Sarma announced that anyone marrying a second time without a legal divorce would face up to seven years in prison, claiming the new legislation would promote “social reform.” However, Muslim leaders and rights groups have condemned the move, calling it a politically motivated attempt to stigmatize Muslims ahead of state elections.
Ilyas Ahmed, a senior advocate at the Guwahati High Court, said the proposed bill violates constitutional protections and interferes with Muslim Personal Law. “Polygamy among Muslims in Assam is nearly extinct. This is not about reform — it’s about using religion to divide voters,” he said.
Critics pointed out that the government has ignored polygamy still practised among several tribal and Hindu communities in the state. Political analyst Ranjit Hazarika noted, “If the government was serious about equality, the law would apply to all. By focusing only on Muslims, it exposes its communal agenda.”
Official data contradicts the government’s narrative, showing that polygamy is lower among Muslims (1.9%) than among Hindus, Christians, or Scheduled Tribes. Social researcher Dr Farzana Rahman said, “The BJP is manufacturing a Muslim issue to distract from unemployment and poverty in Assam.”
Rights groups also accused the Sarma government of a pattern of anti-Muslim measures — from evicting Muslim families to demolishing madrasas — calling the proposed laws “the latest step in legalising persecution.”
Advocate Nilofar Rahman warned that such legislation violates Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees religious freedom. “This is not reform — it’s a weaponisation of law to marginalise an entire community,” she said.
