Rio condemns Anti-Conversion Bill

Kohima, Apr 10 (UNI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to ensure that the basic tenet of secularism as enshrined in the Constitution was not negated or diluted in any manner by the Anti-Conversion Bill.

The Bill was passed by the Rajasthan Assembly on Friday.

In a letter to the President, Mr Rio observed that the Bill was a ''complete misnomer.'' Mr Rio alleged that the Bill was mainly targeted at Christian missionaries, who were doing commendable social services to the dalits and other poor sections of the society through propagating Jesus Christ's teaching of love, care and compassion.

The Chief Minister apprehended that the Bill, passed by the Rajasthan government, could be used for ''harassing'' the Christian missionaries.

UNI AS SJC SB HT1530