All posts tagged: conversions

Maharashtra Passes Freedom Of Religion Bill To Curb Forced Conversions. What It Means | India News

Maharashtra Passes Freedom Of Religion Bill To Curb Forced Conversions. What It Means | India News

Published by Webster

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 08:32 IST For a general offence of illegal conversion, the punishment can be three to five years in jail and a fine between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (Image: PTI/File) The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 was passed by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the night of March 16, 2026. The law is aimed at prohibiting religious conversions carried out through fraud, coercion, inducement or marriage-related deception. Speaking on the Bill, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the law is not directed against any particular religion and is meant only to prevent unlawful conversions. He said the Bill does not restrict a person’s constitutional right to practice religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India, but it does not include the right to convert others through coercion or deceit. According to the government, the law applies equally to all religions and its objective is to ensure that conversions are voluntary and transparent. Complaints can be filed by the affected …

Pastor, Son Arrested In UP’s Fatehpur For ‘Illegal’ Religious Conversions | India News

Pastor, Son Arrested In UP’s Fatehpur For ‘Illegal’ Religious Conversions | India News

Published by Webster

Last Updated:December 29, 2025, 18:32 IST A case has been registered against the pastor, his son, and seven unidentified individuals. Representative image A pastor and his son were arrested on charges of attempting illegal religious conversion during a prayer meeting at a church in Fatehpur district. This arrest followed a protest by Bajrang Dal activists, who claimed that numerous Hindu women had been lured to the church with money and other promises. Tensions briefly escalated when protesters surrounded the police vehicle after the pastor, David Gladion (60), and his son, Abhishek Gladion (30), were taken into custody on Sunday. The police swiftly removed them from the scene. As per the police, a group of Bajrang Dal activists held a nearly three-hour protest outside the church, alleging forced conversions. They claimed that Hindu women were being lured with promises of money, jobs, and free education for their children. The protesters asserted that around 150 people, including a significant number of women, were inside the church at the time. Upon receiving information about the disturbance, Circle Officer …

NGOs misusing foreign funds for religious conversions: Chhattisgarh CM

NGOs misusing foreign funds for religious conversions: Chhattisgarh CM

Published by Parlour News

RAIPUR Alleging that non-governmental organisations in Chhattisgarh were misusing foreign funds received in the name of health and education for religious conversions, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said the actions of such NGOs would be scrutinised. Mr. Sai said the State government is implementing strict laws to prevent forced religious conversions and that legal action will be taken against any organisation, person, or institution found involved in such activities. Mr. Sai had said on Thursday that if any organisation tries to destabilise society through conversion, the State government will not tolerate it at any cost. “The State government will take necessary steps in collaboration with the Centre and enforcement agencies on the issue to curb such activities,” he had said. Weighing in on the controversy over the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) purported funding to India, the Chief Minister pointed out that U.S. President Donald Trump had shut down USAID at the beginning of his tenure because taxpayers’ money was being misused. “Now, it is slowly being revealed how foreign …

Anti conversion bill tabled in Rajasthan Assembly to curb forced religious conversions Key pointers latest updates – India TV

Anti conversion bill tabled in Rajasthan Assembly to curb forced religious conversions Key pointers latest updates – India TV

Published by Webster

Image Source : RAJASTHAN ASSEMBLY (X) Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha in Jaipur. Rajasthan anti-conversion bill: The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025 was introduced in the ongoing Budget Session of the state Assembly on Monday (February 3). It was introduced by Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar and will be passed by the House following a debate during the session. Here are some key pointers of the ‘Anti-conversion bill’ The offence under the anti-conversion bill will be cognisable and non-bailable and triable by a court. The Bill is aimed at prohibiting unlawful conversion from one religion to another and has provisions for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000. Religious conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage has been made an offence in the Bill. The Bill provisions imprisonment for a term not less than one year but it may extend to five years with a fine of Rs 15,000. Those who violate the rules in …

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar Expresses Concern Over ‘Painful Religious Conversions’ | News18

Published by Webster

On Thursday, India’s vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar warned that the “structured manner” in which religious conversions are occurring is “painful” and at odds with the nation’s values and constitutional traditions. He claimed that vulnerable groups in society are being singled out and that a “sugar-coated philosophy” is being promoted. Source link

Concerned Over Religious Conversions For Evading Law In Rape Cases: Delhi High Court

Published by Webster

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has expressed concern about religious conversion done solely for the purpose of marriage or evading law, such as by men facing rape allegations, and issued a slew of guidelines to be followed in such matters. The high court said there should be an informed consent of the person who is willing to embrace another religion and should be fully cognisant of the multifaceted implications embedded in such a significant life choice. It said that by providing a detailed understanding of the religion and its associated ramifications, the individual must be made aware of the potential shifts in his or her legal standing post-conversion. “Conversion to another religion which is uninformed may not prepare a convert with the consequences that they will now not be able to follow their form of religion in case the religion they are converting to, does not permit so. “This becomes more critical in case their reverting back to their religion may ensue legal, matrimonial, succession and custody related consequences. This court is only concerned …

“I’m Trying But…” Harmanpreet’s Honest Confession On Drag Flick Conversions After India’s Hockey World Cup Ouster

Published by Webster

India captain Harmanpreet Singh confessed that he is struggling to convert the penalty strokes while addressing a media briefing after the hosts lost to New Zealand in the crossover on Sunday. The drag-flicker talked about his form at the Hockey World Cup, saying that he has been trying really hard, without any success to convert the chances offered in the form of penalty corners. “Of course, everyone is talking about penalty corner conversion. I am trying but it is not coming off. It’s been a while since taking captaincy,” expressed the captain. Describing his failed attempt during the penalty shootout, he said, “My mindset was to score the goal going into the sudden-death shootout. We could have sealed the match there. We tried hard but unfortunately failed to convert.” Head coach Graham Reid PC also underlined the team’s inability to convert the penalty corner but also highlighted the missed chance during circle penetrations. “Obviously, corner conversion. We had circle penetration but failed to convert them into goals. Not having converted the penalties is a factor …

Protests against alleged religious conversions continue in Uttarakhand | Latest News India

Published by Webster

Protests continued to rock Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district for the third consecutive day on Monday, after clashes broke out at a function organised on the eve of Christmas over allegations of unlawful conversions. So far, six have been booked in connection with the case, police said. Police said the incident took place on Friday, when Pastor Lazarus Cornelius of Union Church (Mussoorie) and his wife Sushma Cornelius were leading the Christmas prayers at a religious centre in Chibala village and a mob of over 100 people barged in and attacked them, alleging forced conversions. While members of right-wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged that the function was organised to “lure people to convert by giving them money and offering them trip”, Pastor Cornelius dismissed the allegations saying that the event was held for inauguration of their centre for social work and to celebrate Christmas. Based on the complaints lodged by both the parties, police have filed two FIRs and booked six people. On Monday, several right-wing organisations, including the VHP, staged a protest march from …

U’khand Villagers Allege Unlawful Conversions, Clash with Organisers of Event; FIRs Registered

Published by Webster

Last Updated: December 25, 2022, 19:07 IST FIRs have been registered against the people associated with the organisation under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (Rep photo: Shutterstock) Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the government has brought the Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act to deal sternly with people who indulge in forcible conversions Villagers clashed with organisers of an event attended by Christian clerics at Devdhung in Uttarkashi district, accusing them of unlawful conversion, officials said. Cases have been registered at the Purola police station against people associated with a missionary organisation called Asha Aur Jivan Kendra as well as five villagers, Purola Station House Officer (SHO) Komal Singh Rawat said on Sunday. The officer said FIRs have been registered against the people associated with the organisation under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 153(a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace). The villagers have been booked for rioting under …

SC takes serious note of ‘scurrilous’ allegations made by petitioner-advocate in forcible religious conversions case 

Published by Webster

File image. | Photo Credit: Reuters The Supreme Court on December 12 took serious note of a Christian organisation’s objections to “scurrilous, vexatious and scandalous” allegations made against minority religions by petitioner-advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay in his case alleging “massive” forcible religious conversions. Appearing before a Bench of Justices M.R. Shah and S. Ravindra Bhat, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, for the organisation referred to allegations made in the additional submissions filed by Mr. Upadhyay in the apex court on December 8. Also Read | Explained | What are the existing laws on religious conversions?  “These allegations include that certain religions are perpetuating rapes and murders… These averments should not be even on the files of Your Lordships. It gives a wrong signal to the minority community that the Supreme Court is allowing this to go uncontested,” Mr. Dave submitted. Justice Bhat intervened to address senior advocate Arvind Datar, who is appearing for Mr. Upadhyay, to go through his client’s written submissions and remove the offending allegations. “Mr. Datar, please consider what these allegations are and …