ENACT ONE COMMON NATIONAL CENTRAL ACT TO STOP RELIGIOUS CONVERSION IN INDIA

Anti-Conversion Laws restricting religious conversions were introduced in Colonial Times itself by princely states headed by Hindu royal families during the British colonial period — particularly during the latter half of the 1930s and 1940s.

These states enacted the laws “in an attempt to preserve Hindu religious identity in the face of British missionaries”. There were “over a dozen princely states, including Kota, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Raigarh, Patna, Surguja, Udaipur, and Kalahandi” that had such laws.

After Independence, many attempts to enact “A National Law of Anti-Conversion” met with failures due to inadequate supports in both the houses of Parliament.

First attempt was in 1954 by the introduction of the Indian Conversion (Regulation and Registration) Bill which sought to enforce “licensing of missionaries and the registration of conversion with government officials”. This bill failed to gather majority support in the Lok Sabha.

This was followed by the introduction of the Backward Communities (Religious Protection) Bill in 1960, “which aimed at checking conversion of Hindus to ‘non-Indian religions’ which, as per the definition in the Bill, included Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism”.

Again in 1979, the Freedom of Religion Bill was introduced in Parliament which sought “official curbs on inter-religious conversion.” These bills were also not passed by Parliament due to a lack of political support.

In 2015, the Union law ministry had given the opinion that a law against forced and fraudulent conversions could not be created at a national level, since law-and-order is a State subject under the Constitution. However, state governments can enact such laws.

Hence as of now, there is no central anti-conversion law, but only laws enacted by State Governments.

Out of total of 29 States in India, Anti-Conversion Laws or Freedom of Religion Laws are currently in force in nine  states — (i) Odisha (1967), (ii) Madhya Pradesh (1968), (iii) Arunachal Pradesh (1978), (iv) Chhattisgarh (2000 and 2006), (v) Gujarat (2003), (vi) Himachal Pradesh (2006 and 2019), (vii) Jharkhand (2017), (viii) Uttarakhand (2018), (ix) Utter Pradesh 2020. (Karnataka will be the tenth State to enact Anti-Conversion Laws – Laws Approved in the Legislative Assembly – but yet to be introduced in Legislative Council.)

There are certain common characteristics of the various state laws. While all states have banned conversions by force, fraud or allurement and inducement of money, only the Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and UP laws place a ban on conversion through marriage.

Punishment: Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, which have the oldest laws, also prescribe the lowest imprisonment time — one year for forced conversion. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand prescribe up to five-year jail term for forced conversion.

In case of a minor or a woman, the punishment is higher in all states.

In 2002, Tamilnadu Government under Jayalalitha had brought “The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Bill 2002”, but repealed the same in June 2004, after the defeat of the BJP-led coalition 2004 election.

From the above Statistics, it is clear that India needs Anti-Conversion Law at National Level to safeguard the HINDUISM from the efforts of non-Indian Religions such Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism activities of forceful and alluring conversions of gullible masses including poor and illiterate tribals and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

According to 2011 census data, 79.80% of the population of India is Hindu, 14.23% Muslim, 2.30% Christian, 1.72% Sikh, 0.70% Buddhist, and 0.37% Jain.

In view of the failed attempts to enact Anti-Conversion Laws at National Level, States level statues viz. India’s Freedom of Religion Acts or “anti-conversion laws” are enacted to regulate religious conversions that are not purely voluntary. Orissa and Madhya Pradesh states were first to enact Anti-Conversion Laws.

Conversion is a sin and a disease.

The Christian Missionaries who are in the forefront forces in their efforts to implement forceful conversions especially Hindu Majorities, quote and want safeguard under the Constitutional fundamental rights to practice and promote their religion.

Freedom of religion in India is a fundamental right guaranteed by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India wherein it was laid down that every citizen of India has a right to practice and promote their religion peacefully.

But the Hindu Religious Majority have strong objection that by the unethical and undemocratic acts of these Christian missionaries due to their unfair methods to convert Hindus, the Peace of the Land will be at peril and hence such activities should be stopped legally. Conversion is a sin and a disease to be dealt with politically, economically and religiously apart from enacting suitable laws at National Level.

There are many instances of riots due to such forceful conversions with loss of lives and properties.

Love of Religion cannot be equated with Lure of Religion.

Missionaries of non-Indian Religions especially Christianity should have purity of actions, when they extend their helping hands to the needy Hindus without any ulterior motives.  Preaching about the greatness of the Christianity is allowable, but, Unholy Acts of criticizing Hindu Gods and Goddesses and of Cultural Customs practiced by Hindus will not be protected under the Fundamental Rights guaranteed by our Holy Constitution.

Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years, whereas the Christianity is of 2000 years old only.

Hence Hinduism which is rich in Vedic literatures, strong in epics, eternal in Spirituality and Yogic Practices, had survived many onslaughts  from alien religions of recent origins – though Hinduism is mostly confined to Bharat – that is India.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Let me modify Jesus’s Statement thus: “Father, Punish them, for what they are doing.”

JAI HINDUISM !  JAI BHARAT !