Govt toying with the idea of amendment in the Religious Freedom Bill

Jaipur, May 7 (UNI) The Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan is mulling over the idea of amending the controversial Rajasthan Religious Freedom Bill 2006 pending Governor's approval for over a year.

The Bill has been pending the Governor's approval over a year after the Assembly passed it on April 6 amidst uprorious scenes and boycott by the oppostion parties.

The Bill ''prohibiting religious conversion by use of force, allurement or fradulent means, ''directed mainly against minority Christian community in the state, has been returned once to the cabinet by the Governor, exercising her powers under Artcile 200 of the Constituion. She found certain provisons in the bill infringing on the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression, freedom of conscience and freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion.

The cabinet, which considered the Governor's objections, has decided to send the Bill again to the Governor on June 13.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told UNI that since the bill has long been pending for the Governor's approval, the government is trying all options including an amended version of the bill.

He said, ''Preliminary discussions have been held in this regard.

Various options are being explored to get the bill legal sanctity and an amended version of the original bill or an entirely new bill is on the card.'' But, the question is whether the amended bill or a new bill on the same line will find favour with the Governor, who had returned the bill once to the cabinet.

If the Governor again refuses to sign the amended bill, it will be a slap in the face of the government which has been under attack from various religious groups, human rights and social organisations.

With Assembly elections just one and half year away, the government is also under tremendous pressure from the fundamentalists in the Sangh Pariwar which has threatended an agitation against the Governor if the Governor delays the seal of approval for the Bill.

UNI