Guj Governor returns controversial Freedom of Religion Bill

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Gandhinagar, July 31 (UNI) Coming down heavily on the BJP government's Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2006 its for violation of Article 25 of the Constitution, Governor Naval Kishor Sharma today returned the controversial bill and asked Chief Minister Narendra Modi to ''suitably amend'', it considering the ''special religion'' status to Jains and Buddhists.

The Governor directed the state legislative assembly to suitably amend the provisions of the said bill as it violated Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

The Governor, observed that provisions of the amendment in the bill were violating Article 25 of the Constitution to the extent of impairing the Freedom of Conscience and protection against forced or fraudulent conversions, hence he returned it for reconsideration.

Mr Sharma considered the proposed amendment at length in the context of its ''far-reaching implications and also considered the fact that Jainism and Buddhism have been recognised as religions rather than denominations of Hindu religion and the position of Jainism has been regarded by the Supreme Court as ''special religion'' formed on the basis of quintessence of Hindu religion.

The orginal bill was passed by the Gujarat Assembly in 2003 and the government came with further amendments in 2006. The proposed Bill seeks to regulate religious conversions, which certain religious leaders described as violation of rights of the people to choose his/her religion.

The amended bill inserted a new clause, which clubs Jains and Buddhists with Hindus, in the same manner as Shias and Sunnis on one hand and Protestants and Catholics on the other. If the Bill turns into act, it would be possible that conversions between Jains and Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, and Hindus and Buddhists can happen easily, without the government's permission.

Hence, a Hindu who decides to become a Buddhist, would not be called a convert. Also, a Protestant seeks to become a Catholic, or vice versa, and a Sunni becoming a Shia or vice versa.

The curbs are on crossing the faith-lines between Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Surprisingly, Sikhs are not even mentioned in the bill.

In this case, if a Hindu wants to become a Christian, the district magistrate has to be informed first. Christian community leaders are livid that the law is now on the verge of being enforced.

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