the Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Saturday approved the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020, in a bid to curb forced religious conversion. If passed into law, it will include a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in jail and up to ₹ 1 lakh in fine.
This bill was passed by voice vote at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ahead of the legislative assembly sessions scheduled for later this month.
State Home Minister Narottam Mishra said the Bill would replace the Religious Freedom Act 1968 after approval by the state assembly. The Bill is aimed at preventing “forceful religious conversion” for interfaith marriages.
Madhya Pradesh government’s move comes months after a similar law was passed by the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh.
Mishra added that under the new bill, forcing religious conversion on someone will attract 1-5 years of imprisonment and a minimum Rs.25,000 in fine. However, if the person belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe or is underaged, the crime would draw a minimum jail term of 2-10 years with a maximum penalty of Rs 1 lakh.
For those who want to change their religion will have to notify two months ahead, failing which, the marriage will be considered null and void under the new law.
Tweeting about it, CM Chouhan said “we won’t let anyone scare or keep someone in dark to convert religion in Madhya Pradesh.”
मध्यप्रदेश में डरा-धमका और लालच देकर अथवा अंधेरे में रखकर कोई धर्मांतरण करवा ले, यह हम नहीं होने देंगे।
इसलिए 1968 का जो हमारा कानून था, उसे हमने और प्रभावी बनाया है। कोई भी दोषी नहीं बचेगा।
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 26, 2020