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Ahmedabad, March 10, 2008: The BJP-led Gujarat government today withdrew a controversial amendment that made state permission necessary for conversions but allowed people to switch sects within the same faith.
The move to repeal the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2006
- which clubbed Jains and Buddhists with Hindus and was panned by critics as a ploy to strengthen “pan-Hindu solidarity” — came after governor N.K. Sharma returned it saying the amendment violated the Constitution.
The original 2003 act, which makes state permission mandatory for any conversion, however, remains in force.
Gujarat Governor returns Religion Bill
New Delhi, August 1,
2007: Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma has returned the Gujarat
Freedom of Religion Bill of 2003 to the Assembly for reconsideration.
The Bill was returned on grounds that it violated Article 25 of the Indian
Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right to practice, promote and
propagate religion of their choice.
The state government, in September 2006 had sent a draft amendment of the Bill
to the Governor which classified Jainism and Buddhism as sects of Hinduism. It
also classified Roman Catholics and Protestants as sects of Christianity and
anybody who wanted to convert had to take the permission of an official of the
collectorate rank.
The Governor had found this objectionable, and asked the State Assembly to
reconsider the change.
A press release issued by Raj Bhawan on Tuesday, read: "The proposed amendment
would amount to withdrawing the protection against forceful or inappropriate
religious conversions, particularly in case of Jains and Buddhists".
The release cites large scale protests from different religious and social
organisations, especially from the Jain and Christian communities, in indicating
toward the unacceptability of the proposed amendment. Human rights groups are now vehemently opposing the Bill because it might flare
up communal tension.
Delegations that met the Governor following the passage of the Bill last year,
took particular objection to the inclusion of Jainism as a "sect" of Hinduism.
The seemingly innocuous change had attracted widespread protests with the All
India Digambar Jain Dharam Sanrakshini Sabha first to protest against
amalgamation of their religion into the Hindu fold.
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