In India, Himachal Pradesh state passes Anti-Conversion Bill

(05 Jan. 07): The state assembly in the North Indian state of Himahal Pradesh passed on December 30, an anti-conversion bill. The bill is termed as The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill. Ironically, the State has only about 8,000 Christians among 6 million people. The bill will become a law only after obtaining assent from the state governor. According to the new bill any person found forcibly converting another person could be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined up to 25,000 rupees. The bill demands that any person wishing to convert to another religion must give prior notice of at least 30 days to the district authority; failing which the defaulter would be liable for a fine up to Rupees 1,000. Dr. John Dayal, president of the All India catholic Union and member of the National integration Council has termed the move of the state government a "cruel joke." Similar anti-conversion laws are in force in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh. Gujarat and Rajasthan assemblies too have passed similar laws.