New Delhi, Mar 12: A PIL was moved in the Delhi High Court on Thursday seeking directions to the Centre to take appropriate steps for stopping religious conversion of socially and economically downtrodden people, particularly of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe community.
The plea claims that the government has done nothing to stop religious conversions.
The plea is listed before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar on Friday.
The petition, by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, alleges that many individuals, NGOs and institutions are converting downtrodden persons by "intimidating, threatening, luring by monetary benefits and by other acts, including miracle healing, black magic and more".
"Many individuals/organizations have started conversions of SC/STs in rural areas and the situation is very alarming. The mass religious conversion of the socially economically downtrodden men, women and children, and, in particular of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe community, is on the rise in the last 20 years," the petition claims.
It further claims as per the 2011 census, Hindus constitute 79 per cent of the population down from 86 per cent in 2001 and if no action is taken "Hindus will become minority in India".
Upadhyay suggested enacting of a law to prevent conversions by force or deceit and to award jail term for any violation.
"Additionally, the State may empower the National Human Rights Commission to deal with the affairs of religious groups and analyse religious discrimination among them," he suggests.
Apart from seeking steps to prevent religious conversions by force, threats or deceit, the petition also wants directions prohibiting religious gatherings "intended to mislead people by making false and untenable claims" to lure ignorant masses to join a particular faith or religious group.
Comments
Why such type goondagiri is taking place in karnatka. Why police are soft on the terror group who are behind such gundagiri. why are they not allowing people to live in peace. Police should trace the culprits from nearby cctv and arrest under goonda act. such miscreants need to be punished to teach lesson to their colleagues. In the meantime, why these youngersters are doing unneessary things and put themselves in truble. Talking to a girl from another community is a crime nowadays and sangh parivar members have the right to beat anyone talking to girl from different community. These miscreants have blessings from bjp. Situation may go out of contral in case Police do not contral these goondas from doing immoral policegiri.
It was wrong that people came in group to hit the boy just because he was talkinng to a girl
Trace out the whole group and retaliate beat them in same manner in Mangalore we not require such taliban kesari attacks.
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