Gujarat Governor returns religious bill; advices to reckon the change

Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma has returned the Freedom of Religion Bill of 2003 to the Assembly for reconsideration. The Governor's response might possibly be an embarrassment to the Narendra Modi led BJP Government in Gujarat state.

In September 2006, the state Government sent a draft amendment of Bill to the Governor categorizing Roman Catholics and Protestants as sects of Christianity and anybody wanting to convert had to take the authorization of an official of the collectorate rank.

This means that the conversion would be considered only if they took place within the same religious confession, i.e. from Roman Catholicism to Protestantism; from Sunni Islam to Shia Islam.

However, although the Governor found this unacceptable and asked the State Assembly to reckon the change there would be no amends to the 2003 anti–conversion law which still punishes anyone who actively promotes conversions.

John Dayal, the chairman of the All India Catholic Union acknowledged the Governor's refusal and said, "Mr. Sharma is the third governor to reject in recent months the so called Freedom of Religion bills, which are a thinly disguised attempt to curb freedom of faith under the pretext of preventing conversions by force or allurement by Christian missionaries."

“Before Governor Sharma, [newly–elected] President Pratibha Patil in her capacity as the then governor of Rajasthan similarly rejected a bill passed by the state assembly even though the local Christian population is less than one per cent. The third case is that of Madhya Pradesh where Governor Balram Jhakkar refused to sign amendments by the BJP government”, cited the chairman.

Amidst the anti conversion laws and acts, the Church still holds firm to its identity and believes to do the best for the betterment of the people.

“Ruling United Progressive Alliance's Vice Presidential candidate Hamid Ansari in his earlier position as chairman of the National Minorities Commission had asked states to disclose incidents of forcible conversions,” Mr Dayal said. But “no state has been able to present a single genuine case.”

Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, chairman of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), told media saying, "Governor Sharma’s decision is a good sign. We are proud of our secular democratic India and our constitution ensures that India protects religious freedom."

Meanwhile the Gujarat government has decided to implement the original anti–conversion Act passed by the assembly in 2003. As per this act any one whether institution or individual engaged in forced conversion of a person would be awarded an imprisonment up to four years and a fine up to Rs. 100,000 but after some revision. The 2003 act was passed by the then governor Sunder Singh Bhandari.