The Rajasthan Assembly turned into a battleground on September 9, as the BJP-led government pushed through the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill. While the ruling party hailed the legislation as a “historic step” to curb forced conversions, the Opposition Congress boycotted the debate, raising uproar over what it alleged was state-sponsored “spying” in the House.
Congress MLAs staged protests and shouted slogans as the bill was passed without their participation. BJP legislators, however, lauded the move as essential to safeguarding cultural and religious harmony in the state.
The legislation makes forced or fraudulent religious conversion a punishable offence with imprisonment ranging from seven years to life imprisonment. Notably, returning to one’s ancestral faith will not be treated as conversion.
The bill also contains tough provisions:
1. Marriage Clause: Conversions before or after marriage through coercion, luring, or false promises can render the marriage void.
2. Property Seizure: Buildings where mass conversions are carried out illegally can be sealed or demolished if found encroaching on land.
3. Fraudulent Conversions: Love jihad, fraudulent marriage, or inducement-based conversions will attract strict punishment.
Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham said the law aligns with the Constitution’s spirit, which guarantees religious freedom but prohibits conversions by force or fraud.
“This bill was needed to prevent conversion through temptation or force and will prove helpful in stopping cases like fraudulent marriage and love jihad,” Bedham said, adding that Rajasthan had earlier introduced a similar bill in 2008 but revived it due to rising incidents.
Cabinet Minister Jogaram Patel echoed similar views, highlighting that the bill provides “stringent punishment after studying other state laws.” He said, “There are strict provisions regarding imprisonment from 7 years to life imprisonment in this law. This law has been made after studying other such laws in the country.”
Another minister, Avinash Gehlot, accused Congress of boycotting the discussion to appease minority voters. “Congress did not take part in the discussion on the bill because four of their MLAs belong to the minority community. Due to this appeasement politics, Congress is in the situation it is today,” Gehlot alleged.
Even as the BJP defended the bill, the Congress accused the government of violating the Opposition’s privacy by installing extra surveillance cameras near their benches in the House.
Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully lashed out, saying, “Cameras have been installed to violate our privacy and to target the Opposition. Personal conversations are being heard.”
The government, however, maintains that the bill is crucial to protecting Rajasthan’s social fabric from “illegal conversions.” With provisions extending to life imprisonment, the law is among the most stringent in India.
