It has now become evident to everyone how Islamic Jihad was targeting Hindu female employees within the country’s prestigious firm, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). If one reflects deeply and empathetically on the matter, consider the plight of the Hindu women in Nashik, Maharashtra, who fell victim to the ‘Corporate Jihad’ perpetrated by Muslim radicals; imagine the sheer helplessness they must have felt, having been coerced into performing ‘Namaz’, consuming beef, and even engaging in sexual relations with their tormentors.
Credit is due to the Maharashtra Police, who stepped forward to patiently gather evidence and uncover the truth of what was transpiring within this company; otherwise, the extent to which Islamic Jihad is perpetrating atrocities against non-Muslims would never have come to light. Scarcely had this incident unfolded when news emerged from Amravati, Maharashtra, regarding the unmasking of Mohammed Ayan Tanveer and his gang, who had sexually exploited 180 minor girls. Observe the age of this Jihadi, merely 19 years old, yet he ensnared numerous minor girls in his “love trap” and subjected them to sexual abuse. Approximately 350 videos were recovered from his mobile phone.
Indeed, these two recently surfaced incidents have sparked a new discourse within the country: how can this Jihadi mindset be curbed? If one delves deeper into these events, one finds that similar Jihadi-motivated crimes against non-Muslims are occurring almost daily, in one corner of the country or another. Recently, during the election campaign in Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also delivered sharp remarks regarding “religious conversion”, specifically addressing conversions effected through deceit, inducement, or coercion.
Consequently, the question that clearly arises is this; Does India not require a uniform, unambiguous, and stringent central law on this subject, or should this critical issue be left solely to the discretion of the individual states? And if action is indeed warranted in this regard, why is a law not being enacted at the central level? After all, it is a well-known fact that the issue of religious conversion in India is nothing new; however, concerns regarding its nature and impact have intensified significantly in recent years. In particular, instances of religious conversion, facilitated through inducement, coercion, or alleged deception, within tribal and economically weaker sections of society have further exacerbated this debate.
It is precisely for this reason, given the gravity of the subject, that in March of this year, Dr Sumer Singh Solanki raised this matter as a formal demand in the Rajya Sabha, the country’s Upper House of Parliament. He unequivocally stated, “This issue is not merely confined to being a question of religious faith; today, it has evolved into a matter concerning our cultural identity, social stability, and constitutional equilibrium.” Meanwhile, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been vocal on this subject from the very outset, consistently advocating for the enactment of a stringent, nationwide law.
Dr Surendra Jain, the Central Joint General Secretary of the VHP, states unequivocally: “Following the exposure of the TCS Nashik incident, it has become abundantly clear how, the moment a Muslim individual assumes a high-ranking position, he proceeds to recruit a disproportionately large number of his Muslim associates, subsequently making numerous Hindu boys and girls victims of his conspiracy. Teaching them Muslim customs and practices, coercing them into offering ‘Namaz’, feeding them beef, and forcing them into religious conversion are acts that are utterly reprehensible.”
Dr Jain adds, “As soon as this conspiracy came to light, it became evident that this plot is not confined solely to TCS; rather, a vast network of this ‘Jihadi’ conspiracy has spread across dozens of other multinational corporations, such as Tech Mahindra in Goregaon. Until now, only instances such as ‘Gym Jihad,’ ‘Spit Jihad,’ ‘Salon Jihad,’ and ‘Choreographer Jihad’ had surfaced, leading to the assumption that only individuals with limited education were involved in such conspiracies. However, the complicity of individuals working within institutions like Al-Falah, KGMU University, and subsequently within these multinational corporations in this conversion conspiracy demonstrates that the Jihadi mindset is not merely a mental aberration confined to the uneducated; rather, it operates with equal depth within the minds of the highly educated as well. They, too, transgress all boundaries of civilised conduct to orchestrate forced conversions.”
Furthermore, Dr Surendra Jain, the Central Joint General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, clarifies: “If anyone seeks to put an end to these practices and wishes to sever all ties with such Jihadis, they can no longer be accused of suffering from ‘Islamophobia.’ Civilised society across the entire world is grappling to escape this Jihadi conspiracy and is actively taking measures to counter it. Strict laws must be enacted across all states in India to curb illegal conversions.” To this end, the VHP urges all political parties to rise above their political spheres and prioritise national interests. VHP National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal has also substantiated this point with numerous facts, highlighting how religious conversions are being carried out across the country through deceit, coercion, inducement and feigned affection.
The question arises: why exactly is the VHP demanding the enactment of a national anti-conversion law, given that several state governments have already enacted such legislation? In this regard, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal explains, “This is because, currently, there is no specific central law in India addressing religious conversions. While some states have indeed enacted laws at their own level- aimed at curbing forced or fraudulent conversions, a significant portion of the country remains uncovered. Therefore, a primary rationale behind advocating for a national law in this context is the need for uniformity.”
Bansal adds, “When different states within the same country operate under disparate laws and procedures, it is only natural for complexities to arise at both the judicial and administrative levels. This issue becomes even more acute in inter-state matters, where the nature of an offense and its attendant legal consequences may vary from one state to another. It is for this very reason that a uniform central law has emerged as an imperative necessity.”
On the other hand, a crucial aspect of this entire discourse is the Indian Constitution itself. Article 25 of the Constitution grants every citizen the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate their religion; however, this freedom is not absolute. It entails certain attendant responsibilities and remains subject to “public order, morality, and health.” Conversely, Article 21 guarantees every individual the right to life and personal liberty, a right that encompasses the freedom to marry a partner of one’s choice and to lead one’s life as one deems fit. Nevertheless, even within this framework, the use of deceit, inducement, or coercion remains unacceptable.
State governments argue that when religious conversion occurs through deceit, coercion, or inducement, it constitutes a violation of individual liberty; moreover, it disrupts the social equilibrium. Consequently, they contend that it is the State’s duty to intervene in such matters. As we are all aware, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the constitutional validity of anti-conversion laws enacted by various states; concurrently, however, films and media have propelled this subject into the realm of widespread public discourse. Films such as ‘The Kerala Story’ and ‘The Kashmir Files’ have accorded issues like religious conversion and ‘Love Jihad’ a prominent position within the national debate.
In this context, the arguments favouring a central law are clear: for the sake of uniformity, clarity and effectiveness, a single, nationwide statute is an imperative necessity today. Consider for yourself: if religious conversions are indeed taking place through deceit or coercion, why should such acts not be designated as grave offences? Thus, in this specific context, the existence of a uniform and effective law across the country has become an absolute necessity.
