The Uttar Pradesh government has passed a bill on Tuesday to amend an anti-conversion law, increasing the severity of punishments for offenders. The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act was passed by the Yogi Adiyanath-led state government, following its introduction by parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna on Monday. Previously, the law stipulated a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 for fraudulent or forced conversions.