By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Jaipur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state has decided to reintroduce the anti-conversion bill in the Assembly on 20th March, ignoring the fact that a similar bill is awaiting the President of India’s assent.
The new bill to be known as the Rajasthan Religious Freedom Bill (Rajasthan Dharma Swatantrata Bill) has been described by many as a draconian measure. The earlier version of the bill was passed by the Assembly on 7th April 2006 and sent to the Governor Pratibha Patil (now President of India). Rather than giving her assent to the bill, she sent it to the then-President APJ Abdul Kalam. The bill has since been pending there.
The Congress Party has opposed the bill. State party chief Dr C.P. Joshi has been quoted saying that the Congress will oppose the bill as it will jeopardize communal harmony.
There are some minor changes in the new bill. A person intending to convert will have to give a 30-day notice to District Magistrate. The DM will enquire into the case. But a person reverting back to his original religion will not require giving any such notice. In the new bill, the minimum punishment will be one-year simple imprisonment while the minimum punishment in the old bill was two years. The maximum punishment could be three years and a fine which could extend up to Rs.25,000.