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India's government advocates anti-proselytization law
Controversial legislation proposed amid forced-conversion scandal
Swati Deb, New Delhi IndiaDecember 12, 2014
India’s pro-Hindu ruling party on Friday called for laws banning religious
conversion several days after 200 Muslims in Agra were reportedly forced to
convert.
Debate erupted over the reports in the Lower House of parliament on
Thursday with Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, a member
of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People’s Party),
saying “let there be anti-conversion laws in all the states”.
“Let us all seriously work towards the progress of the country,” he said.
Already, anti-conversion laws are in force in the states of Arunachal Pradesh,
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh.
The issue of religious conversions was raised in the Indian
parliament after 200 Muslims were allegedly forcibly converted to
Hinduism earlier this week in Agra, in Uttar Pradesh by the pro-Hindu Bajrang
Dal, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, or national volunteer
corps).
Bajrang Dal and RSS officials termed the event a “home coming” for the converts
and defended their actions.
Debate raged after opposition member Jyotiraditya Scinda raised the incident to
seek a clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and warned it was a ploy
to “polarize” the nation.
Denying that, the minister lauded the RSS, calling it a “great organization”
before proposing the controversial law.
The Christian community lashed out in response, saying such legislation would
be a violation of human rights.
Father Z Devasagayaraj, secretary of the office for Scheduled Class/Backward
Class and tribal affairs of the Catholic Bishops’
Conference of India, said an anti-conversion law in the country would
restrict the rights of those who want to escape oppression from their
religion.
“Even Hindus who want freedom from caste oppression and untouchability will be
restricted to follow the religion,” he told ucanews.com on Friday.
The priest said that more than the religion itself, the freedom of the
individual’s rights must be respected.
John Dayal, a member of the National Integration
Council, told ucanews.com that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Naidu's
response clearly highlights the connection between the government and
RSS, which is fomenting forced conversions in several parts of the
country.
Dayal added that the country does not need an anti-conversion law.
Instead, he said: “We need a law to prevent communal and targeted violence
against religious minorities and others.”
Related reports
Indian bishop denies forced conversions
India Christians accuse Hindus of forced conversions
