KOCHI, India, September 13 (Compass) -- India’s
coalition government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), is about to introduce fresh rules to prevent religious conversion among
backward Hindus across the nation.
Entitled “Change of Religion of the Members of SC/ST (Regulation and
Approval) Rule,” the law will come into effect once published in the
official gazette.
Framed by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
the rule has no approval from the Indian Parliament. The BJP, the ruling Hindu
nationalist party, is vigorously opposing conversion of backward Hindus to
Christianity and Buddhism.
“This rule is not against conversion. We are just trying to regulate
forcible conversion,” Bizay Sonkar Shastri, chairman of India’s
National Commission for SC/ST, told Compass. “Our aim is to ensure that
secular nature and the principles of equality are not violated by
conversions,” he said.
Once implemented, the law will insist that anyone wishing to change religion
apply with an affidavit before the District Collector (a chief government
executive) or an equal authority. Further, the official must provide a written
order granting his permission. If violated, the person could be punished with a
fine of 1000 Indian rupees ($21) per day, from the date on which the conversion
took place until he or she is charged with the offense.
In a country where 350 million people are illiterate and 260 million fall under
the poverty line, the rule demands aspiring converts to have undergone a
secondary education.
“This will effectively deny a large section of Indians their right to
religious faith ensured by India’s Constitution,” said Oliver
D’Souza of the All India Christian Council.
He said Indian Christians will fight the rule if implemented.
In cases of aspiring converts who lack the required educational qualification,
the law recommends setting up of a panel to “guarantee freedom of
conscience of the uneducated.” The District Collector shall appoint an
observer for such conversions, who shall be a civil servant “belonging to
the same denomination to which the said conversion is sought to be
effected.”
All District Collectors are expected to submit a quarterly report to the state
governments and an annual report to the federal government on all religious
activities related to conversion.
Observers feel that India’s Supreme Court abetted the present move to
bring new laws on conversion by its September 1 ruling that there is “no
fundamental right to convert” anyone from one religion to another. It
further stated that the authorities can impose restrictions on religious
conversions.
Church groups across India have already expressed disappointment over the court
decision, which in effect allows the federal government to prevent people from
changing their religion.
But some are hopeful about a review of the judgment.
“This judgment and the present rule can be questioned on the grounds of
fundamental rights,” said D’Souza. “The ruling will have to
come up before a constitutional bench of the court, where we stand a
chance.”
“We will make sure that religious rights of the minorities are
protected,” he added.
Christian leaders also point out that the rule can be discussed in Parliament,
allowing elected representatives to debate the issue.
“The National Commission for the socially backward is showing its true
colors,” said D’Souza. “By aiding the rightist Hindu rulers
to prevent Dalits from leaving the Hindu fold, it has virtually turned into a
national commission for fascism,” he said.
Conversion to Christianity is a highly controversial issue in India. In January
1999, Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were burned alive,
allegedly by Hindu fundamentalists who accused Staines of converting tribal
peoples.
The Indian states of Orissa, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, where the BJP or its
allies are in power, have passed laws to prevent conversions. For some time,
the BJP has been pushing for other Indian states to pass similar laws.
Critics say these rules are specifically aimed at Christian missions working
among tribal peoples, the poor and the low-caste Hindus known as Dalits.
Charles Mims
http://www.the-sandbox.org
