Ranchi protests against the anti-conversion law and the lands

Nearby 5,000 people of different faiths on Saturday protested in Ranchi, against the recent Bill passed by the Government in Jharkhand state of India. 

Catholics, Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims demonstrated against the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Bill 2017 and the Land Acquisition Act 2013 amendments, the rule that protected tribal lands. “We are united against the divisive forces of this country. In fact, anti-conversion laws are tools to curb religious freedom,"  said Fr. Michael Kerketta, a Jesuit theologian speaking to AsiaNews.

22 social and civil organizations participated in the event.  They  opposed the anti-conversion law passed in August by the state authorities. It provides for up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 rupees [600 euros] for anyone who is caught in committing a crime, that is, an attempt to convert by force or by material coercion.

According to Fr. Kerketta, the Jesuit theologian, "the new law on lands wants to divide the tribal population along religious lines, on the example of 'divide et impera'. In this way, the properties would be expropriated from tribals and sold to large business groups. All this, of course, goes against the best interests of tribals. "

Prior to the protest Card Telesphore Toppo said, “Forced conversions do not exist. We are free people, with a free will and a free consciousness and intelligence.” On speaking publicly against the law  the  Hindu nationalists of Jharkhand  harassed  the archbishop of Ranchi and circulated photos of an effigy of the cardinal being set on fire.  While denouncing the incident with a letter-appeal addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Msgr. Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Indian Bishops' Conference (CBCI), highlighted a worrying aspect: the fact that the anti-conversion law was approved to divert attention from another law issued in August, the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act 2013, the law protecting the tribal lands.

Since 2000, an “anti-conversion” legislation has been adopted by six Indian states: in Chhattisgarh in 2000; in Tamil Nadu in 2002 (then repealed in 2004); in Gujarat in 2003; and in Rajasthan in 2006 (not signed by the governor, therefore not in force); in Himachal Pradesh in 2007 and Jharkhand  in 2017  when its governor, Draupadi Murmu, signed a bill on September 5, "Freedom of Religion Bill".The measure affects non-Hindu religious communities like Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and other local communities. (AsiaNews)