Anti-Conversion Bill under consideration: Raj Governor
Jaipur, June 19 (UNI) Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil here today said that the Rajasthan Dharma Swatantrata Bill, 2006 is under consideration and she is yet to take a decision on it.
Mrs Patil was replying to a query while inaugurating the Gandhi Exhibition here today. She refrained from commenting on the issue any further.
The Governor has returned to the state capital after spending a month and a half in Mount Abu. With her return here, the speculations about the passage of the controversial Anti-Conversion Bill has gained momentum.
The Cabinet re-sent the Bill to Governor for approval last week.
The Governor had sent back the Bill to the state government on May 15 after it was sent to her on April 19. The Bill was passed by the state Assembly on April 7 -- the last day of the Budget Session.
The Governor had objected to some points in the Bill saying it might curtail the Right to Freedom of Religion of a citizen. Mrs Patil had even advised the state government of sending the Bill to the President for approval.
The Opposition Congress along with other social organisations have protested against the government's move to implement such a Bill.
The Bill recommends five years imprisonment for those found guilty of forcible conversions. It also gives the state the right to jail, even before a trial, any person accused of forcing a person to change his religion. The proposed law makes unlawful conversions a non-bailable crime that could lead to at least two years imprisonment. The law is applicable only in case of conversion from original religion, giving rise to speculation that it is only meant to stop conversions from Hinduism.
UNI RRT YA DS1410