Assam to introduce bills against ‘love jihad’ and polygamy in November session: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that his government will introduce key legislative bills aimed at curbing “love jihad” and polygamy during the upcoming winter session of the state assembly in November.

The proposed legislation is expected to further intensify the state’s drive towards what the ruling BJP describes as “social and moral reform.” Speaking to the media after an official event in Nagaon on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said that the state cabinet would soon approve the draft bills, following which more details would be shared publicly.

“In the next assembly session, we will introduce several important bills related to issues such as love jihad, polygamy, the protection of Vaishnav monasteries (Satras), and land rights of tea tribe and tribal communities,” Sarma stated.

The announcement marks another bold step by the BJP-led Assam government, which has been steadily implementing measures aligned with its ideological stance on family laws, religious conversions, and cultural preservation.

Sarma, who has often taken a strong stand on interfaith marriages and polygamy, said the new bills would bring legal clarity and protect women from alleged exploitation under the guise of religious conversion.

While the Chief Minister did not share specifics of the proposed laws, officials close to the state government have hinted that the “love jihad” bill may include stringent penalties for deceitful religious conversions for marriage. The “polygamy control” bill is likely to ban the practice of having multiple spouses, a move the government argues will ensure gender justice and uniformity in civil law across communities.

The Assam government’s legal team has been studying similar laws proposed or enacted in other BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, to frame Assam’s version of the legislation.

In addition to these social reform bills, Sarma said that the government is preparing legislation to safeguard the Satras — the traditional Vaishnavite monasteries that form the spiritual backbone of Assam’s cultural identity. Over the years, the state has witnessed encroachments on lands belonging to Satras, prompting the government to initiate steps for their legal protection.

The Chief Minister also reiterated his government’s commitment to empowering tea garden and tribal communities through land rights and job reservations.

He confirmed that a bill granting land ownership to tea garden workers will be tabled during the same assembly session in November. “We have already announced three percent reservation in Assam Civil Services and Assam Police Services for youth from the tea and tribal communities,” Sarma said.

He added that this reservation would be extended to Grade III and IV government jobs under the OBC category, ensuring greater representation for historically marginalized groups. The reservation policy will come into effect this year, and successful candidates will receive their appointment letters at a public ceremony aimed at promoting awareness and inclusion.

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