J’khand faces flak over new anti-conversion law
The BJP government’s intentions are not good. It wants to divide the tribals to further their political agenda in preparations for the next election.
Jharkhand is all set to become the sixth Indian state to introduce an ‘anti-conversion law’.
The state would follow Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in implementing a Freedom of Religion Act, which, in practice, discourages evangelism.
The Jharkhand cabinet met on Tuesday evening and approved the draft of the proposed Jharkhand Anti-Conversion Bill.
As per the draft of the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of forcibly converting ones religion through force or allurement would be liable for punishment that includes a jail term of three years and a fine of ₹50, 000.
Individuals voluntarily opting to switch to another religion would have to inform the local deputy commissioner/ collector about the reasons and the place of conversion failing which, they will be liable for prosecution.
“Now that the cabinet has approved the draft, it is likely that the assembly would pass the bill,” said a source in the home department.
Since the BJP government came to power in 2014, it has stepped up its efforts to check conversion, specifically of the tribals, who constitute 26 % of the state’s total population. To begin with, it curbed the flow of government funds to various Christian affiliates, organisations and development groups that were allegedly misusing them.
The trigger for the proposed bill came early this year when the Government of India released the population census. According to the 2011 census, the Christian population in Jharkhand rose by a whopping 29.7 % in the last 10 years followed by Muslims at 28.40% while Hindu population rose by 21 %.
Chief minister Raghubar Das had shared his concern on conversions on several occasions. “Those indulging in forcible religious conversion would not be spared,” Das had said at public meetings in Gumla and Khunti, urging tribals “not to fall for the bait of Christian missionary organizations.”
Christian groups then had raised their objections over the CM’s remarks. Senior IAS officer Vandana Dadel, a tribal and practicing catholic, also shared her anguish on Facebook.
“The BJP government’s intentions are not good. It wants to divide the tribals to further their political agenda in preparations for the next election,” said Prem Chand Murmu, president of Adivasi Budhijivi Manch. Murmu on Monday called on the National ST Commission and drew its attention towards the alleged violation of democratic rights of tribals.
Opposition Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) too criticized the draft. “BJP wants to impose the RSS ideology on tribals and further their divide and rule agenda in the state,” said Congress state secretary, Aditya Vikram Jaiswal.
JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said the legislation is aimed at creating friction among the tribal society, which does not augur well for the secular fabric of this nation. “We will oppose it tooth and nail,” he said