The Rajasthan Cabinet has approved a new anti-conversion bill, which imposes severe penalties, including jail terms of up to 10 years and a compensation of Rs.5 lakh for victims of forced religious conversion. The bill, titled the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion, targets individuals or institutions using deceit, pressure, or coercion to force conversions. It specifies varying sentences based on the nature of the conversion, with penalties of 2 to 10 years and fines for converting minors, women, or individuals from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In cases of mass conversions, the punishment could extend to 10 years in prison and a ₹50,000 fine.
The law requires advance notice for conversions and mandates affidavits post-conversion, addressing concerns over fraudulent or coercive conversions.
The bill has drawn mixed reactions. BJP’s Ghanshyam Tiwari praised the bill as historic, while Congress’ Govind Singh Dotasara criticized it, citing existing laws. He accused the BJP of attempting to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims for political gains.
This bill follows similar legislation passed in other BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. However, it comes amidst ongoing debates over whether such laws infringe on individual freedoms. Rajasthan’s move marks a significant development in the anti-conversion legal landscape within India.
