Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government is preparing to introduce a tougher law to prevent what it calls “illegal religious conversions.” Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said the draft bill will be tabled in the next Assembly session. He stated that the move is aimed at protecting the cultural and social identity of tribal communities.
Sharma told reporters that conversions carried out through deceit, financial inducements, or coercion will be treated as criminal offences. He said the government would not interfere in voluntary conversions but would act against those using fraudulent means. The proposed law is expected to include tougher penalties and make prior permission and registration mandatory for anyone seeking to convert or facilitate conversions.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government’s concern stems from reports of rising conversions in tribal areas, which he said threaten traditional customs and beliefs. He added that the law would strengthen monitoring mechanisms and make accountability stronger at the local administrative level.
The initiative aligns with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s wider policy focus on religious conversions in tribal regions across India. Similar laws exist in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Civil rights organisations and minority groups have opposed such laws, arguing that they restrict the constitutional right to freedom of religion and are often used to target minorities.
The proposed legislation, if passed, will add Chhattisgarh to the growing list of states with stringent anti-conversion laws.
