To further its campaign against Christianity, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded an amendment in the Indian constitution to check religious conversions.
The party's president Rajnath Singh while addressing a function in Bhopal on Oct. 31 said foreign forces were involved in large-scale conversions through inducements and hence an amendment in the constitution was essential.
"The country is facing lot of threats from within and outside and foreign forces were indulged in large scale religious conversion in the country with an aim to finish India's strength of embracing all faiths of the world," the Press Trust of India quoted him saying.
Rajnath demands a provision in the constitution to enable conversions only before a competent authority. Pointing Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and North Eastern states, he continued, they "threatened the demographic profile of the nation".
The BJP leader's call has come at a time when Christian groups are clamoring against anti-conversion laws passed in several BJP-run states which they say is both 'unconstitutional' and 'oppressive'.
Although its stated purpose is to curb conversions of "force" and "fraud", at several occasions it is unduly evident that it has served the subduing of freedom of religion by falsely implicating pastors, putting them under detention on fallacious charges and disallowing prayer services.
Currently, anti-conversion laws are in force in five states - Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. In two other states - Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, the laws have been passed but its implementation is awaited.
In Himachal Pradesh, the stringent anti-conversion bill declares that anyone found guilty of forcing an individual to change religion can be punished with a two-year jail term, a fine of up to 25,000 rupees (US$560) or both.
Nation
BJP chief wants amendment in constitution to curb conversions
By: John Malhotra
Monday, 2 November 2009, 17:37 (IST)
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Added: Tuesday, 3 November 2009, 2:44 (IST)
The BJP, from the very inception of the party, used the most touchy subject of "conversion" to instigate the Hindu masses to their fold. It was very effective in the beginning, but the zeal was lost in course of time, as Hindus began to get educated, also thousands Hindus; both rich and poor, educated and illiterate began to follow Jesus Christ. The converts never caused any damage to the society, and they are very patriotic. The BJP had all the dreams to rule India with a decisive majority, but the dream was totally shattered. They did introduce anti-conversion laws in seven States where the BJP and their allies were in power. Dalits conversion to any religion, it will totally undermine high class Hindu's strategy of exploiting the Dalits. (BJP is the party controlled by the high class Hindus). The BJP and her allied parties are in a progressive oblivion, all across India. Now the BJP is trying to revive the old panacea of " conversion" as the last resort. It may be very possible that the present UPA government may bring a law which will void the anti-conversion laws already enacted in seven states. On the other hand, there will be a new law that "conversion" is the fundamental right of every citizen of India.
A.S.Mathew, Ringgold, U.S.A.
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