Rajasthan refuses to sign a controversial anti-conversion bill, amid fears the legislation could increase persecution of Christian believers and other religious minorities.
State Governor Pratibha Patil decision has "given hope to religious minorities facing increasing discrimination and persecution," said UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) in a statement to BosNewsLife.
The Rajasthan Freedom of Religion bill, which was passed on 7 April prohibited conversions by ‘force’, ‘fraud’ or ‘allurement’.
"There had been fears that the vague definitions might easily be used to jeopardize a wide range of legitimate religious activities," CSW said.
"GENUINE CONVERSIONS"
"Despite the ostensible aim to ‘maintain harmony amongst persons of various religions’, it was further feared that the law would create a climate in which violent opposition to genuine conversions would be legitimized."
In other Indian states with anti-conversion legislation, Christians have been the targets of widespread attacks by Hindu militants who often accuse Christians of converting people by ‘force’ or ‘fraud’, church groups say.
"Laws such as this, which give credence to this rhetoric, make the Christians more vulnerable to accusations and attacks," CSW added.
Governor Patil returned the bill to the Rajasthan Government, leaving it with the option of referring the law to the President under Article 200 of the Constitution, analysts say.
CHRISTIAN COUNCIL
In a statement the All India Christian Council, expressed its approval of the rejection of the bill.
"We thank you for paying heed to the nationwide outcry…against the bill whose intention and nefarious motives were nothing less than to divide the people on religious lines and injure the secular polity of the state and the nation," said AICC Secretary General John Dayal and member of the Government’s National Integration Council in an open letter to the governor.
The bill had also attracted international condemnation from human rights and religious groups. On May 18, Pope Benedict XVI reportedly called for a firm rejection of "the reprehensible attempt to legislate clearly discriminatory restrictions on the fundamental right of religious freedom."
There have been some concerns within evangelical circles however over attempts by the Vatican and the World Council of Churches to formulate a "Code of Conduct" regarding conversions, in which other religious leaders from Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism will have a say.
FIRST STEP
Evangelicals argue that the Jesus Christ ordered his followers to preach the Gospel to all nations. Yet a rejection of the anti-conversion law in Rajahstan was a step in the right religious direction, said CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas.
"This is a much-needed boost for religious minorities in Rajasthan and, most importantly, a clear statement of the incompatibility of anti-conversion legislation with India’s secular democratic values. We hope this leads to further challenges to anti-conversion laws in five other states in India," Thomas told BosNewsLife.
Christians comprise roughly 2 percent of India’s mainly Hindu population of about 1.1-billion people. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from India).
