The concept of 'love jihad' in India has sparked controversy among India's politicians and poses a threat to religious cohesion.

Love jihad is an alleged process in which Muslim men target young non-Muslim girls, in a form of emotional manipulation to bring about conversions to Islam.

A number of high profile reports of women being forced to convert to Islam in India has provoked controversy, largely because the allegations have been supported by Hindu nationalists.

One case currently under investigation is that of Tara Shahdeo, a national-level rifle shooter, who claims her husband and his mother forced and tortured her to convert to Islam, having disguised his beliefs before their marriage.

Two MPs from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have claimed that madrasas (Islamic schools) promote terrorism and even encourage young men to turn convert Hindu girls using financial bribes.

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said Madrasas were "hubs of terror" providing an "education in terrorism", where love jihad flourishes.

He claimed that a Muslim youth in a madrasa would be offered a reward of Rs 11 lakh for an 'affair' with a Sikh girl, Rs 10 lakh for a Hindu girl and Rs 7 lakh for a Jain girl, according to the Indian Express.

'Love jihad' has reportedly been happening in Kerala, Mangalore in Karnataka state, with Uttar Pradesh supposedly at the centre of the campaign.

The ruling Samajwadi Party descried Maharaj's comments as "hate speech" and accused him of creating community divisions, The Hindu reported.

Home affairs minister Rajnath Singh, a member of the BJP, also denied the existence of a targeted 'love jihad' campaign in an interview with the Indian Express on Friday.

Some have accused the BJP of using reports of love jihad for political gain.

Others, however, are actively campaigning against love jihad, including members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a large volunteer organisation, with a right-wing Hindu nationalist agenda.

The organisation aims "to carry the nation to the pinnacle of glory" by working for unity and brotherhood among Hindus.

RSS has gained increasing influence in Indian politics since the election of the BJP's Narenda Modi as Prime Minister in May.

India's 1.27 billion population is 80 per cent Hindu, with Muslims making up about 13 per cent.