Indian state passes anti-conversion measure despite opposition from religious groups

Lawmakers in the Indian state of Jharkhand have passed a legislation that would ban religious conversions, despite widespread disapproval from religious groups, as well as from civil society and tribal groups across the state.

According to International Christian Concern (ICC), the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Bill-2017 also known as "Jharkhand Dharma Swatantra Adhiniyam," was passed by the Jharkhand Assembly on Saturday.

The bill will go to the governor's desk for approval before it will be sent to the president for final assent.

Rev. Dr. Man Maish Ekka, a member of the local religious forum known as the Jharkhand Sadbhavana Munch, expressed disappointment over the passage of the legislation.

"This is very unfortunate for the people of Jharkhand," he said. "This is not just an attack on Christians, but is an attack on the religious freedom that the constitution gives to very [sic] citizens of this country. the motive of the bill is to divide the tribal people and break their unity," he continued.

Under the legislation, those who attempt to convert a person from one religious faith to another by force or by "fraudulent means" can be punished by imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of 50,000 Rupees (US$778), or both. The prison sentence would increase to four years and the fine to 100,000 Rupees (US$1,556) if the person being converted was a minor or a woman.

The leading Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) argued that the tribal population of Jharkhand has been targeted by missionaries, noting that the Christian percentage of the tribal people has risen by nearly 30 percent since the previous census.

"The anti-conversion law will ruin the lives and the witness of the church," a local pastor in Ranchi, who wished to remain anonymous, told ICC. "The BJP having the power both at the national level and the state, wants to implement its Hindutva ideology. This bill will further divide the people of Jharkhand, particularly divide the tribal people who lived in unity for ages," the pastor continued.

Crux noted that less than five percent of Jharkhand's population is Christian. However, over a quarter of its population is considered tribal, and Christians comprise nearly 15 percent of the state's tribal population.

While India's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, anti-conversion laws are currently in effect in six states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh.

According to ICC, due to legal ambiguities, anti-conversion laws have been widely used by Hindu nationalist groups to harass and intimidate Christians while claiming to be under the auspices of state law.