Months ahead of the Assembly elections and a day after Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma returned a Bill to amend the Freedom of Religion Act, the Narendra Modi Government has decided to reactivate the dormant anti-conversion law enacted by the Assembly in 2003.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

A statement issued by Ministers I K Jadeja and Saurabh Patel, the government spokespersons, stated that the administration was of the view that without affecting freedom of religion as enshrined in the Constitution, it was necessary to stop all religious conversions through inducements or threats in larger national interest.

The statement added: “The Modi Government believes that the state has been specifically targeted by some foreign powers for religious conversions, as they convert the innocent and the poor using inducements and threats. Strong nationalistic political will is needed to counter such forces, but unfortunately the opposition Congress does not believe in preserving national identity. The Cabinet lauds the decision to bring in the original anti-conversion law of this Government, terming it in national and societal interest.”

Responding to the Governor’s decision to return the amendment Bill, the Government said that it was brought with the intention of preventing divisions within those religions which have their origin in the country. “The issues raised by the Governor would be studied exhaustively, and the Government would determine its next step in due time following constitutional guidance from experts,” the note stated.

The anti-conversion law was enacted in 2003 by the Modi Government immediately after it came to power, but it failed to implement it as proper rules and procedures were not stipulated.

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