Up to 5-year jail term for forced conversion in HP

Shimla, August 30

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly today unanimously passed the HP Freedom of Religion Bill, 2019, making penalty against forcible conversion punishable up to five years. The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2006, passed by the earlier Virbhada government, has been repealed. 

Congress MLAs said instead of bringing a new Bill, amendments could have been made in the earlier one.

CM Jai Ram Thakur said conversion by “luring people with financial and other benefits” could not be allowed. The law prohibits conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement or by any fraudulent means or by way of marriage. There is a provision for action against forced marriage against the priest who solemnises it, be it a maulvi, pandit or father.

Congress legislators Asha Kumari, Jagat Singh Negi and Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu credited Virbhadra Singh with being the first CM in the country to enact a law to prevent forced conversions. — TNS