JHARKHAND: TRIBAL WARFARE, AGAIN
A new anti-conversion bill invites charges of fanning religious polarisation
After governor Droupadi Murmu returned two contentious land tenancy law amendments in June, Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das is pushing another potentially polarising proposal—the new Jharkhand Religious Independence Bill.
The bill forbids religious conversion ‘through allurement or coercion’ and violators face a three-year jail term and Rs 50,000 fine. Stricter punishment—up to four years in jail and Rs 1 lakh fine—is prescribed if the ‘victim’ is a minor scheduled caste or scheduled tribe girl. Approved by the cabinet on August 1, the bill will be tabled in the ongoing session of the state assembly.
While the government claims the bill will deter those who fiddle with tribal culture by carrying out religious conversions through inducement, blackmail or coercion, many
ANALYSTS SAY THE BILL COULD DEEPEN THE MISTRUST OF THE CM AMONG JHARKHAND’S TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
believe the provisions attack freedom of religion. The onus to verify whether a conversion was voluntary, forced or through allurement would be on deputy commissioners. Says a senior IAS officer in Ranchi: “Practically speaking, an already overburdened deputy commissioner will find it easier to reject or keep conversion requests pending rather than take the trouble of vetting cases.”
Analysts say the bill could deepen the mistrust Jharkhand’s tribal communities have of Das, the state’s first non-tribal chief minister, as it looks like an attempt to divide the tribal people along religious lines. Around 1.4 million, or 4.3 per cent of Jharkhand’s population of 32 million, is Christian— a community with considerable sway among tribals. About 26.3 per cent of the population is tribal and 21 of the 81 seats in the state assembly are reserved for scheduled tribes.
“Since the BJP cannot defeat the tribal population, they are making an attempt to divide the population along religious lines. It will come a cropper. This new law aims at targeting Christian missionaries and serving the BJP,” claims Sukhdev Bhagat, state Congress president. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha chief Babulal Marandi also questions the bill. “The Raghubar Das government has misplaced priorities. Its focus is on issues that polarise society on religious lines,” he says.
The tribal communities had stoutly opposed the chief minister’s bid to amend the Land Tenancy Act, prompting governor Murmu to turn down the amendments. The ruling BJP had then accused the church and Christian organisations of fanning anti-government protests.