Jaipur, December 1 (IANS). ‘The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2024’ was approved in the cabinet meeting held on Saturday under the leadership of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Law Minister Jogaram Patel will present this bill in the upcoming assembly session of Rajasthan.
He said, “In view of the way cases of religious conversion have come to light in the state, it has been decided to present this bill in the Assembly.”
While addressing a press conference in this regard, he said, “Earlier, there were conversions in Uttar Pradesh in 2021, Madhya Pradesh in 2021, Uttarakhand in 2018, Gujarat in 2021, Himachal Pradesh in 2019, Jharkhand in 2017, Karnataka in 2022, Odisha in 1967. Laws have been made against it. Apart from this, laws have been made against religious conversion in many other states also. In view of this, now we have also decided to take this step.”
He said, “Article 25 of the Constitution allows all of us to practice our religion according to conscience. We look at all religions with equality. All religions have different methods of worship, with which we have no objection. But, if someone converts someone by luring him or by taking illegitimate advantage of his financial weaknesses, then we will include him in the category of forced conversion. Today we have brought this law to stop that. Different laws have been made regarding this in different states.”
He said, “If someone is found involved in a case of religious conversion in Uttar Pradesh, he will be punished with a punishment of 1 to 5 years. We have also made a provision for punishment of one to five years in our bill. If someone converts a woman, a minor or a person belonging to the SC/ST community, there is a provision to give him a punishment of 3 to 10 years. If anyone is found involved in conversion cases again or mass conversion is done, then a provision of 10 years imprisonment has also been made for him.”
He said, “The provisions of punishment in case of religious conversion in Gujarat, Jharkhand and Karnataka are very strict, we have made provisions for punishment by adjusting all of them.”
He said, “If someone wants to convert to religion voluntarily, he will have to inform the concerned District Magistrate 60 days in advance, only then he can convert.”
It is noteworthy that earlier in 2008, the conversion bill was brought in the Vasundhara government. This bill was stuck in the Center for 16 years. Which had not been approved by the President till now. But, now the Bhajanlal government will also withdraw the conversion bill passed during the Vasundhara government and will present a new bill on conversion.
–IANS
SHK/CBT
