HVK Archives: BJP MLA seeks to make conversion an offence
BJP MLA seeks to make conversion an offence - The Times of India
Vidhyadhar Date
()
5 August 1996
Title : BJP MLA seeks to make conversion an offence
Author : Vidhyadhar Date
Publication : The Times of India
Date : August 5, 1996
BJP MLA Mangalprabhat Lodha has drafted a bill which
seeks to jail those resorting to religious conversions.
Having already given notice of the bill to assembly
speaker Dattail Nalawade, he hopes it would be introduced
next week.
The bill is bound to prove controversial. The Christian
community, in particular, has reacted strongly to
similar bills passed In Arunachal, Madhya Pradesh and
Orissa. A big morcha was taken out by Christians in
Mumbai in 1978 when a private member's bill seeking a ban
on conversions was introduced in Parliament during the
Janata Party regime.
Mr Lodha, an MLA from Malabar Hill, has consulted the
party leadership. President of the party's Mumbai unit
Kirit Somaiya said, "An open discussion should be held on
the issue. The BJP is firmly committed to its demand for
bringing a common civil code and opposition to
reservations to dalit Christians. The issues raised by
the bill should be discussed by the people."
Mr E.D'lima, a professor of theology in Dnyanadeep
Vidyapeeth, Pune, said "Constitutionally, the bill is all
right. But it was difficult to apply criteria to decide
whether force is used in conversions. I would be opposed
to changing a religion if the motive was suspect or force
was used."
Mr Asghar Ali Engineer of the Centre for the Study of
Society and Secularism, said the proposed bill appeared
to be politically motivated. "In a free democratic and
pluralistic society, you cannot stop conversions. If
people convert out of conviction, it would be Impossible
to stop conversion."
"Conversion could also be political as Mr B.R. Ambedkar
led thousands of his followers to the path of Buddhism.
If force is used, there are enough provisions In the
present legislation to stop them" he said.
Mr Engineer said the Vishva Hindu Parishad itself was
carrying out a programme of conversions to Hinduism,
specially in Rajasthan among the Meo Muslims.
Mr Lodha, whose father Mr Gumanmani Lodha Is a former
chief justice of the Guwahati high court and a BJP MP
from Rajasthan, said he expected the Congress to strongly
oppose the bill. However, the VHP and other
organisations have welcomed it. The bill seeks to punish
conversions with Imprisonment up to one year or fine up
to Rs 5,000 or both. Conversion will be treated as a
cognisable offence.
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