Jaipur, India - An anti-conversion bill prohibiting religious conversion by use of force, allurement or fraudulent means, was passed by the Rajasthan assembly here Friday amid a walkout by the opposition Congress.
The Rajasthan Dharma Swatantrya Act, 2006 (Rajasthan Religious Freedom Act), tabled by Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, has come into force immediately.
According to the act, whoever contravenes its provisions shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term not less than two years but which may extend to five years, and also a fine of up to Rs.50,000.
Any offence under this act shall be cognizable and non-bailable and will be investigated by a senior police officer.
'The state government has observed that some religious and other institutions, bodies and individuals are found to be involved in unlawful conversion from one religion to another by allurement, fraudulent means or force, which at times has caused annoyance in other communities,' Kataria said.
'The inter-religion fabric is weakened by such illegal activities and causes law-and-order problem for the law enforcing machinery of the state. In order to curb such illegal activities and to maintain harmony amongst persons of various religions, we have enacted a special law for this purpose,' the home minister said.
C.S. Baid, a senior Congress leader, said the act is politically motivated and aimed at helping the policies of Sangh Parivar.