http://www.dailyindia.com/show/98340.php/Himachal-Pradesh-passes-anti-con
version-legislation
Dharamshala, Dec 30 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh
has passed a legislation banning forced religious
conversions.
The Congress-led government in the state passed
the legislation during its four-day winter session
held at the newly constructed Vidhan Sabha (State
Legislature) in Dharamshala on Friday.
Kaul Singh, Law Minister, Himachal Pradesh,
said, that "according to the bill if someone
was forced to change his religion without his
consent then he could come back to his own religion
within a month".
Under the bill, persons who had forced or induced
someone to change his/her religion then he/she
would liable for punishment, he said.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
has also welcomed the Bill.
In the recent months, five states ruled by BJP
or its allies have introduced or strengthened
anti-conversion laws, which they say will protect
India's religious identity and foster communal
harmony. But this is the first time such a law
has been passed in a government ruled by Congress
Party, which has been critical of such laws
in BJP-ruled states.
Under some of the new laws, anyone planning
to leave the Hindu fold must obtain certificates
from officials and affidavits from courts saying
they were converting out of free will and not
by inducements.
For decades, conversion has been a sensitive
issue in India, with right-wing Hindus accusing
Christian missionaries in particular of converting
poor Hindus with inducements such as free schooling
and health care.
But Christians, who have long advocated for
the rights of Dalits, say those who switch their
faith do so to escape the oppressive caste system
amongst Hindus.
Minority groups also say Hindu hardliners polarize
voters on religious lines to gain political
mileage.
Millions of low-caste Hindus switch their faith
to escape the 3,000-year-old rigid caste system
dominated by the once-priestly Brahmin class.
Hindu scriptures divide people into Brahmin
priests, warriors, farmers and labourers, while
the rest are beyond definition - called "Dalits".
The dalits, who constitute over 16 per cent
of India's 1.1 billion population, are considered
"untouchables", and often face discrimination,
performing the most menial and degrading jobs.
The caste system still persists in villages,
despite the country's spectacular economic success
and exposure to Western culture. India's constitution
also forbids caste discrimination.
Hindus form 80 per cent of secular India's billion-plus
population, while Muslims account for 13 per
cent, Christians less than three per cent and
religious minorities such as Sikhs, Buddhists,
Jains and Parsis make up the rest. (ANI)
Edited by - minu on 12/31/2006
