India, March 6 -- The state cabinet has approved the controversial Freedom of Religion Bill to crack down on religious conversion through marriage, or what certain right-wing organisations call "love jihad", though the law recognises no such terminology.

The bill was approved on Thursday, paving the way for its passage into law during the ongoing budget session of the state legislature. If passed, Maharashtra will become one of the few Indian states to enact a law granting the government power over its citizens' right to love and choose a spouse.

The law, which goes by different names in other states, aims to stop "love jihad", a controversial term used by Hindu nationalists, who believe that Muslim men are luring Hindu women to convert...