CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Says Assam Govt to Table ‘Love Jihad’, Polygamy Bills in Upcoming Assembly Session

Speaking to reporters in Nagaon on the sidelines of an official function, the Chief Minister said that the upcoming Assembly session, expected to take place in November, will see the tabling of multiple key legislative measures aimed at what he called the “preservation of social harmony and traditional values” in Assam.

“In the coming session of the Assam Assembly, we will introduce some important and historic bills on issues like love jihad, polygamy, preservation of Satras, and land rights to tea tribes,” Sarma said.

The Chief Minister, however, clarified that the details of the draft bills will be disclosed only after they receive the State Cabinet’s approval. “We will be able to tell you the details when the Cabinet approves the same,” he added.

Although Sarma did not elaborate on the contours of the proposed legislations, the announcement comes in the backdrop of his government’s ongoing efforts to formulate laws aimed at prohibiting polygamy and alleged “forced or deceitful interfaith marriages” in the State.

Earlier this year, the Assam government had constituted an expert committee to examine the constitutional and legal aspects of banning polygamy under existing personal laws. The committee, headed by Justice (Retd.) Rumi Kumari Phukan, reportedly submitted its recommendations, paving the way for the government to draft the legislation.

The proposed move to introduce a “love jihad” law follows similar measures taken by several other states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where laws have been enacted to penalize religious conversions carried out through coercion, deception, or marriage.

Sarma, who has often spoken against what he terms “unlawful religious conversions,” had earlier said that such a law was necessary to safeguard the dignity and security of women in Assam. The Chief Minister has also positioned the proposed ban on polygamy as part of his government’s broader initiative to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC)-like legal framework within the State’s jurisdiction.

The announcement regarding the preservation of Satras and land rights for tea tribes also aligns with the government’s stated priorities of cultural conservation and social equity. Satras, established by the 15th-century saint Srimanta Sankardeva, are considered the spiritual and cultural bedrock of Assam’s Vaishnavite tradition, and successive governments have pledged measures for their protection.

The tea tribes, one of Assam’s most marginalised communities, have long demanded legal rights over the lands they inhabit and cultivate. The new bill, Sarma indicated, may address aspects of their land ownership and welfare.