The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a bill on Saturday prohibiting “mass conversion” and increasing the maximum punishment for any alleged forced or coerced conversion to ten years in prison.
A voice vote was used to pass the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
The bill proposes to amend the 2019 Act to include a reference to “mass conversion,” which is defined as two or more people converting simultaneously, and to enhance the maximum sentence for forced conversions from seven years to ten years.
The measure was introduced on Friday by the Jai Ram Thakur-led BJP administration. The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2019, which just went into effect a little over two and a half years ago, has been strengthened by this legislation.
On December 21, 2020, notice of the 2019 Act was given. The 2019 version had taken the place of a 2006 law that imposed milder penalties.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stated in his introduction of the bill on Friday that the 2019 Act lacked a provision to prevent mass conversion and “hence, a provision to this effect is being introduced.” In addition to adding a new section 8A, the bill aims to amend sections 2, 4, 7, and 13 of the 2019 Act.
Anti-conversion legislation has had strong backing from the Hindu nationalist party, and it has been passed in numerous BJP-ruled states.
After the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) passed an anti-conversion law in states, attacks against Christians and Muslims increased in many BJP-ruled states.
This follows criticism and accusations from religious minorities in India that the BJP-led administrations of the Union and the states have been criminalizing religious conversions.
Hindutva organizations have long claimed that minority Muslims and Christians are attempting to take over India through the marriage of Hindu women and by financially supporting Hindus who are converting to Islam and Christianity. This accusation stems from Modi’s increasing tide of Hindu nationalism.
Related
