The anti-conversion law passed by the Rajasthan Assembly last month has come into force from today. The Home Department of the state government has issued the gazette notification of the new conversion law. After the release of the notification, from today onwards cases related to conversion will be registered under the new law. According to the law implemented from today, even for changing religion on one’s own will, one will have to first obtain the approval of the government. However, this law will not be applicable on returning home to the original religion i.e. Hinduism.
The Anti-Conversion Bill (Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Bill 2025) was passed in the Rajasthan Assembly by voice vote on September 9 this year amidst huge uproar by the opposition. Many strict provisions have been made in this.
- The building where mass religious conversion will take place can be demolished with a bulldozer.
- This law will not apply in cases of return to the ancient original religion.
- That is, if someone’s ancestors were Sanatani and he was adopting another religion for many generations, then it will be considered as homecoming.
Congress party had accused the government
This conversion law will not apply in cases of return home. There is a provision for punishment up to life imprisonment in the new law. Along with this, there is also a provision for punishment up to Rs 25 lakh. It is being claimed that among the states in the country where conversion law has been implemented, Rajasthan has the strictest provisions. However, during the discussion in the House, the Congress party had alleged that the conversion bill was going to divide the society and it was unnecessary.
‘There was no need for this bill’
Leader of opposition in the assembly Tikaram Julie says that not a single case of love jihad has been registered in the state. In such a situation, there was no need for this bill. On the other hand, people associated with the ruling party say that conversion was being done on a large scale in the state through fear, pressure and greed. Innocent people, especially girls, are harassed after forcing them to convert to religion as part of a conspiracy.
- Conversion law has succeeded in the third attempt in the state
- In 2005 and 2008 also, the conversion bill was passed by the Assembly, but both times it could not get approval from the Governor.
- All three times the bill has been approved in the Assembly only under BJP governments.
- Many organizations have talked about challenging the conversion law in the Supreme Court.
- The cases of all the 12 states in the country where conversion laws have been made are pending in the Supreme Court.
- The most stringent provisions in the conversion laws made by the states have been kept in Rajasthan only.
