September 14, 2005

Anti-Conversion Bill Expected in Rajasthan State, India

By VISHAL ARORA

(Compass) The state government of Rajasthan plans to present an anti-conversion bill to the state assembly during its next session, beginning on September 26.

Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the state government will also keep a "strict vigil" on the activities of churches, particularly those in a newly-formed Catholic diocese in Jaipur, the state capital.

If the bill becomes law, any person wishing to convert and any religious official involved must inform district officials before a conversion takes place. Failure to meet this requirement will lead to imprisonment and/or a stiff fine.

"Wherever Christian missionaries go, they convert people of other faiths," said Madan Dilawar, state social welfare minister and a member of the World Hindu Council (VHP). "Since we are in Rajasthan, where a considerable part of the population are adivasis (members of tribal groups) who are the target of missionaries, we will keep strict watch over all churches."