The Chhattisgarh government has passed a bill aimed at preventing religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraud, or misrepresentation.
The proposed law, which includes stringent provisions such as life imprisonment in cases of 'mass conversion', prohibits conversions through force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, misrepresentation, fraudulent means, or marriage, including via digital platforms.
The bill defines 'allurement' broadly to include monetary benefits, gifts, employment, free education or medical facilities, promises of a better lifestyle or marriage, while 'coercion' includes psychological pressure, threats, and social boycott.
Offences are cognisable and non-bailable, though reconversion to one's ancestral religion is excluded.
The bill prescribes punishments ranging from seven years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence.
Opposition Congress raised objections, seeking to hand over the bill to a 'Select Committee' for review, and boycotted the day's proceedings after the Chair rejected their objection.
