Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - There are political motives behind the approval of the anti-conversion law in the north west Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. A local Church source told Fides that the local governing Congress Party approved the measure as an electoral opportunity: Himachal Pradesh is preparing for general elections early in 2008, and the law in question had already been presented by the Hindu nationalist party Baratiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress Party approved the Bill to deprive adversaries of a possible electoral campaign weapon.
This is the first time that this law is approved in a state not at present governed by the BJP. In the past Congress Party was opposed to measures of this kind. “This shows that the hindutva nationalist ideology exists also outside the BJP” the source told Fides. “This will encourage the nationalists to go ahead and confirm or tighten legislation which is causing suffering for religious minorities, Christians and Muslims”. The local Catholic Church is concerned because the law looks with suspicion on Catholic social work.
Abraham Mathai, secretary general of the All India Christian Council says the measure is “draconian”, which will “violate fundamental rights sanctioned in the Constitution of India which guarantees freedom of religious belief and practice”. “This kind of law - he said - undermines the spirit of democracy, especially in a state ruled by Congress Party”, which has always defended the secular nature of the state.
Muslim leader Syed Shahabuddin, for MP and president of the Indian Muslim Union, called for the Bill to be revoked in a letter to Sonia Gandhi in which he defends Indian Christians in Himachal Pradesh. Syed said the law “is totally unjustifiable given the small size of the Christian community in the state 8,000 in a population of six million”. Mr Syed Shahabuddin fears a domino effect with the approval of similar laws in other states of the Union.
In India anti-conversion Laws are in force in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Prades, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat (and recently modified). In Rajasthan the law was passed in parliament but not yet signed by the Governor (not in force). In Tamil Nadu, the bill was approved but then revoked after the BJP lost the elections. (PA)(Agenzia Fides 23/1/2007 righe 33 parole 348)
