Aashwin Shanker, Mumbai Uncensored, 25th June 2021:
Surendra Jain of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued a press release on 22nd June, demanding
the enactment of an anti-conversion law to stop illegal conversions in the country. The demand
was raised by VHP after the police busted an illegal conversion racket in Noida.
Joint General Secretary VHP Dr Surendra Jain, in his statement termed the conversion
racket as “conversion jeevi”. He further adds “Till now, these conversion-Jeevi elements used
to target and victimize the general unsuspecting and innocent people. Now they are committing
the inhuman cold-blooded crime of targeting even the deaf and dumb children! Many children
are missing. They are suspected of having been engaged in terrorist activities.”
Mr Jain also pointed out that in the midst of the pandemic the conversion jihadists were
busy collecting funds to push their propaganda. They were getting funds from India as
well as foreign.
The General Secretary also praised the anti-conversion law enacted by the UP government
under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He said that the law has helped in catching the
conversion gang. Meanwhile he also urged other states to adopt such laws.
VHP urged the government to form a commission of inquiry on the lines of the Niyogi
Commission mandated with jurisdiction to cover the entire country.
Which states in India have enacted the anti-conversion law?
● Uttar Pradesh
● Gujarat
● Uttarakhand
● Madhya Pradesh
● Himachal Pradesh
● Arunachal Pradesh
● Tamil Nadu
● Andhra Pradesh
● Odisha
● Chhattisgarh
● Jharkhand
The Gujarat government led by CM Vijay Rupani had proposed an amendment to the Gujarat
Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 to bring more stringent punishment against forced religious
conversions through marriage.
The new law will invite a maximum jail term of seven years along with a penalty.
The anti-conversion law in the State of Gujarat was enacted as the Gujarat Freedom of
Religion Act, 2003. [85] The purpose of the Act is to prohibit conversions from one
religion to another by the use of force, allurement, or fraudulent means.
