Source: in.christiantoday.com
INDIA, June 23, 2009: Home Minister P. Chidambaram will be reviewing and making recommendations on the controversial “Freedom of Religion Acts,” enacted to prevent forced and fraudulent conversions. It is said that these Acts will be repealed.
Presently, anti-conversion laws are in force in five states – Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. In two other states – Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, the laws have been passed but not yet implemented. They are teh result of community pressure against deceitful and unethical conversions, especially those performed by some missionaries.
In Himachal Pradesh, the stringent anti-conversion bill declares that anyone found guilty of forcing an individual to change religion can be punished with a two-year jail term, a fine of up to 25,000 rupees (US$560) or both. The law also states that a person intending to change her or his religion should inform the government 30 days in advance.