NCM urges states not to water down Right to Religious Freedom

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Taking note of the anti-conversion laws passed by states, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) today urged their governments not to do anything to water down the provisions of the Article 25 of the Constitution guaranteeing the Right to Freedom of Religion.

The Commssion said it has received various representations from members of the public and community organisations drawing the Commission's attention to the existing recent pieces of legislation imposing restrictions on religious conversions in some states.

They expressed the view that while coercion was inadmissible in matters of faith, restrictions based on vague or unsubstantiated allegations of ''inducement and ''allurement'' have rersulted in interference with the practice of religion and hampering the legitimate activity of propagation, the NCM said.

The representations also asserted that such practices violate the guarntee given in the Article 25 and contarvene the country's commitment under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Pointing out that right to profess and propagate one's religion under the Constitution was an imporatnt ingredient of the country's multi-religious edifice, Commission advised the state governments not to dilute this right and ''resolve any misgivings and misunderstandings through dialogue'.

UNI NAZ KD RAI2132