The Chhattisgarh government has tabled a bill in the assembly aimed at preventing religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraud, or misrepresentation.
The bill, which seeks to replace the existing Freedom of Religion Act, has stringent provisions including life imprisonment in cases of 'mass conversion'.
It also provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years in cases where minors, women, persons with mental disabilities, or members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backward Classes are victims.
The bill defines 'allurement' as monetary benefits, gifts, employment, free education or medical facilities, promises of better lifestyle, or marriage, while 'coercion' includes psychological pressure, physical force or threats, including social boycott.
Mass conversion has been defined as conversion of two or more persons in a single event.
The bill mandates that individuals intending to convert must submit a declaration to the competent authority, and religious functionaries conducting the conversion must also provide prior intimation.
Stringent penal provisions have been proposed, including imprisonment of not less than seven years, extendable to 10 years, and a minimum fine of ₹5 lakh for violations.
