INDIA, September 19, 2019 (Indian Express): In 2006, the Himachal Pradesh government led by Virbhadra Singh became the first Congress-ruled state to pass an anti-conversion law. The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act was aimed at reported conversions done by Christian missionaries in the hill state. Soon there were reports that Christian organisations had complained about the law to the Congress High Command and later challenged the law in the High Court. Over 13 years on, the present state government under Jai Ram Thakur government has amended the law with the quantum of punishment raised from three to seven years. It has also broadened the scope of the law to deal with what Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) calls “love jihad.” Late August, the Bill was passed unanimously with the Congress backing it in the House.
Chief Minister Thakur said the earlier law was just cosmetic and lacked both political will as well as the resolve to question those indulging in the “crime of religious conversions.” “During the past 13 years, not even a single case was filed under the 2006 Act, despite a series of religious conversions happening in areas of Ani in interior Kullu, Rampur in Shimla district, Chirgaon and Rohru (Shimla) and many other places of Chamba and Kangra. We will not allow this to happen as it disturbs the peace, and creates unnecessary tensions in the society,” the CM added. The maximum punishment will be up to seven years in case of conversion of persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes or women. Other cases will attract punishment of five years against the earlier two years. There is also provision for a fine of up to US$700.
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