Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Fides Service) - Congress Party with its centuries old democratic, secular tradition, tolerant, respectful of individual freedom and human rights should cleanse itself of poisonous elements of fundamentalism and communalism. Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Catholic Archbishop of Delhi, has asked the leader of Congress party Sonia Gandhi to cleanse her party of communal elements. He said this would restore the confidence of India’s minorities in the century-old political party that led the country to freedom from foreign rule.
Archbishop was speaking in the context of the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2006 which was passed into law after the governor signed it last month. The Congress party rules the State of Himachal Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Bill is one of various anti-conversion laws which make it difficult for Indians to change religion. India’s Christian community strongly opposes similar laws which it sees as violation of individual freedom of conscience. This is the first such Bill approved in a state ruled by Congress Party. So far these measures have been passed only in states governed by the rightwing Hindutva group of the Baratiya Janata Party.
The Archbishop pointed out that “there has been not even one proven case of conversion by fraud or fraudulence in the country”, and he questioned the need for the Bill.
The anti-conversion Bill went into force in Himachal Pradesh on 19 February. Some Christian organisations are thinking of pressing for the repeal of the Himachal Bill on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, since India’s constitution guarantees freedom of belief and religion for all citizens. Observers say Congress party approved the Bill to win more popularity in view of elections in 2008. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2007 righe 27 parole 278)
