Bhopal, India - Taking a controversial step into the arena of conversions, the BJP-majority assembly in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday enacted a legislation that makes switching faiths tougher. The legislation has prescribed punishment for priests who conduct conversions without informing authorities one month before any such act.
The tightening of an anti-conversion law comes after months of campaigning by Hindu activists trying to prevent mass conversions into Christianity ostensibly. The amendment, meant as a shield against forcible conversions, prescribes one-year jail term and a Rs 5,000 fine for violations.
Although critics say such laws stifle the spirit of religious freedom, the MP government argues that on the contrary it would protect the personal choice of faith by removing the chance of coercion and allurement.
The passage of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom (Amendment) Act made it mandatory for the priests performing the conversion ceremony to inform the state government about the exact day and place where the conversion is to take place.
Anti-conversion laws exist in Orissa and Chhattisgarh, where people can be punished for not informing the state about their plans to convert. But MP now takes it further by enforcing punishment for the priests involved in conversions.
In the original Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act of 1968, the priest was not a party to such a conversion. The law required the person who wanted to switch religion to inform the district magistrate of the decision. Now Section 5 of the Act has been amended to include priests.
The priest now has to fill in an application form giving details of not just the venue and date of the ceremony, but also add a list of names and addresses of those seeking conversion. This application has to be submitted at the district magistrate's office a month before conversion.
This is to be followed by an administrative inquiry conducted by district officials and police superintendent, who is expected to ascertain whether there was any allurement or coercion to convert.