Thwarting Hindu nationalist attempts to introduce a nationwide ‘freedom of religion’ law, India’s Ministry of Law and Justice told the federal government on 15 April that it does not have jurisdiction over the matter.
The statement marks a triumph for Christians and other religious minorities in India.
Preventing conversion
Hindu nationalist bodies, collectively known as Sangh Parivar, have long pushed for the implementation of a nationwide ‘freedom of religion law’ to prevent Hindus from converting to Christianity or other religions. These laws, already implemented in six Indian states, are often used to falsely accuse Christians of converting Hindus to Christianity by force, fraud or allurement.
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised to enforce such a law in the run-up to the elections last year, and endorses Sangh Parivar attempts to bring in the nationwide implementation of the law.
According to the Ministry of Law and Justice, however, the central government does not have the authority to introduce a ‘freedom of religion law’. Citing the 1977 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Orissa (now Odisha) and Madhya Pradesh state laws, the Ministry said that these laws were enacted on the basis that they sought to protect public order, a matter that falls within state-level government, according to the constitution’s Seventh Schedule.
There has been a call for Hindus to have more children and for Christians and Muslims to be sterilised.
