Haryana to bring bill against religious conversion by force, marriage: CM Khattar

The Haryana government will bring a bill against religious conversion by force, inducement or through marriages solemnised for the sole purpose of adopting a new religion, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday.

He also said that if needed, the existing cow protection law in the state will be made more stringent. Speaking to reporters in Nuh, Khattar said there have been complaints that a handful of people indulge in cow slaughter. There have also been complaints about instances of religious conversion in Nuh.

Khattar said that while one has the right to adopt any religion, conversion by force, inducement, etc. are not tolerable. The Right to Freedom of Religion Bill will be brought in which there will be provisions against conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, inducement, marriage or any fraudulent means, Khattar said.

"Strict action would be taken against those involved in forcible conversions," he said. He also said a board would be constituted to look after the "religious assets of Hindus in those areas where they are in minority. This work would be done according to the demand of the people of the area concerned".

The chief minister said that various steps were being taken by the state government for maintaining mutual brotherhood and social harmony among the communities.

Khattar said that one issue which sometimes creates wedge and disharmony between two communities is when some people indulge in cow slaughter.

He said the state government has decided to hold trials against accused in cow slaughtering cases in fast-track courts in a bid to curb such incidents.

He said that to curb incidents of cow slaughter in Haryana and to take strict and prompt action against the accused, hearings of all such cases would be held in fast-track courts. 

Though Haryana has a stringent cow protection law, Khattar said, it does not deter people at times.

"Recently, 2,550 pieces of cow hides were recovered from a village... If needed, amendments would also be made in the Haryana Gau Sanrakshan and Gau Samvardhan Act, 2015, to ensure protection of cows," he said.

Earlier, the chief minister held a meeting with district officials and representatives of various social and religious organisations, a state government statement said here.

He appealed to the people that they should continue to maintain social harmony that has been prevalent through the ages by strengthening the spirit of brotherhood.

He said the state government plans to set up a unit of the India Reserve Battalion in Nuh district. The IRB battalion based at Gurugram will be shifted to Nuh and a new women IRB battalion will be established in Gurugram.

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Christians played no role in India's freedom struggle: BJP MP Gopal Shetty

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Mumbai North Gopal Shetty has stoked a controversy recently stating Christians did not contribute to the freedom struggle and also called them 'angrez' (foreigners).

The BJP MP also claimed that it was only the Hindus and the Muslims who played a role in India's freedom struggle.

"Christians were British, hence they didn't participate in India's freedom struggle. India was not freed by Hindus or Muslims, we fought as one for our independence," he can be heard as saying in the video.

Shetty made the controversial remark while addressing a gathering during the Eid-e-Milad organized by the Shia Kabrastan Committee at Malad's Malvani here on Sunday. 

When asked about the controversial remark he said that his statement has been misinterpreted. But has offered his resignation to the state party president Raosaheb Patil Danve. 

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BJP's Ballia MP calls Christian missionaries 'threat to country's unity'

Claiming that Christian missionaries are a threat to the unity and integrity of the country, BJP MP Bharat Singh has accused the Congress party of working on their directives.

"Christian missionaries control the Congress. Sonia Gandhi, the mother of Congress president Rahul Gandhi works on the directions of these missionaries. These missionaries are
a threat for the unity of the country," Singh said while talking to reporters on Saturday.

Singh also alleged that the democracy in the northeastern states of the country has "weakened" due to "conversion of people there into Christianity."  "The North-East is under the influence of Christian missionaries. Democracy has weakened due to the conversion of people into Christianity there. The conspiracies hatched by these missionaries are a threat for the country," he added.

The Ballia MP, incidentally, had also alleged recently that the Christian missionaries were behind the vandalisation of the statues of the Dalit icon and key architect of the Indian Constitution,  Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Bill seeking anti-conversion law tabled in Maharashtra assembly

The Maharashtra assembly on Friday admitted a private member bill by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Atul Bhatkhalkar, seeking an anti-conversion law in the state.

The bill was tabled amidst pandemonium by ruling party and Opposition members, exchanging allegations and slogans.

Bhatkhalkar, who moved the bill, said, "There are various states including Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat where such a law has been enacted and court rulings in such cases have said that the state is within its rights to make such laws.”

Bhatkhalkar said there were several places even in Maharashtra, where conversions were being carried out forcibly or by offering bribes and so it was essential for the state to enact an anti-conversion law. The bill calls for imprisonment and a penalty against those who convert forcibly. The amount of penalty and the term of the imprisonment had not been specified.

After Bhatkhalkar mooted the bill, fellow legislator and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city chief Ashish Shelar moved a note of dissent. He said he does not think there are instances in the state where conversion is carried out forcibly.

The bill was, however, taken on record. The BJP, while in the Opposition, was keen on getting an anti-conversion law enacted.

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Five held for attack on prayer group in Kerala

The police have arrested five persons in connection with the attack on a prayer group at Attingal.

The arrested were identified as Anoop, 36, of Kizhattingal; Anoop, 30, of Velloorkonam; Abijith, 22, of Attakulam; Vimal, of Chittattinkara; and Deepu, 26, of Kallambalam.

The case related to a group, allegedly Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers, attacking a prayer group at Attingal on Sunday when Reaching World with Love Ministry, a Pentecostal group, was holding a meeting.

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Coverage by Indian Express 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Attingal police on Monday identified and arrested five persons in connection with the attack on a Christian prayer hall here on Sunday. The accused are T T Anoop, 38 of Elappuram, Attingal; Anoop, 30 of Kizhuvalam; Abhijith,22 of Attakulam Attingal; Vimal, 30 of Kizhuvalam and Deepu, 20 of Kallambalam.

According to the police, the five are suspected to be RSS activists who unleashed an attack on the prayer hall, leaving many devotees injured.

The incident occurred on Sunday at 12.30 pm, when 50 of the suspected RSS activists barged into the prayer hall situated at the Attingal Riot Memorial Library hall and attacked the people assembled in the hall, including the pastor, without any provocation.

The prayer group named ‘Reaching the world with love ministry’ was conducting the weekly prayer meet. Over 200 people were gathered for the prayer meet.

“Despite manhandling the devotees, the activists also allegedly vandalised valuable equipment including televisions and cameras and destroyed the food kept for lunch. The injured people were - including pastor Siju, 24 - Sam, 26, Valsala,48, Binu, 42, Saju, 24 and Baby Girija, 45. All of them are out of danger and recovering well. However, the investigation is on to find more persons involved in the attack and they will be nabbed soon,” a police official said.

Rural SP Shefeen Ahamed said that the assailants allegedly broke a finger of a middle aged woman and even beat up a physically challenged man seated on a chair, asking him to get up and clear off. “This is an attack on the freedom of religion”, the SP said.

Condemning the incident, Home Minster Ramesh Chennithala said that it was nothing but an attack on belief and everyone had the right to believe and worship. However, the government and the citizens were committed to giving full protection to them. 

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Christian prayer group attacked in Kerala by RSS and BJP members

Eight persons sustained minor injuries after nearly 50 persons allegedly owing allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) attacked a prayer group at Attingal on Sunday.

The Attingal police said the incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. when the Reaching World with Love Ministry, a Pentecostal group, was holding a prayer meeting at the municipal library hall. The activists marched to the venue raising slogans and accused the group of organising a conversion drive and targeting those belonging to the Hindu faith. The police registered a case against 20 persons.

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