State to bring law against religious conversion: Min
"We will bring in a strong law and so no one will dare to undertake religious conversion," said Bawankule, amid complaints by BJP MLAs about "forcible conversions to Christianity" in the tribal belt of Dhule and Nandurbar.
Meanwhile, tribal welfare minister Sanjay Uike said his department would try to bring the tribals who converted to Christianity back into the fold. "We will remind them of the benefits they have gained with their adivasi caste status," he said.
The issue was raised in the assembly by BJP MLA Anup Agarwal who complained about "forcible conversions" of Bhil tribals in Nandurbar to Christianity by offering inducements including medical aid.
He said there were 199 unauthorised churches in Navapur taluka according to an RTI response. "When will the illegal churches be demolished and when will the state bring a law to prevent forcible conversions?" he asked. Bawankule said the home department had already received a report on this issue and the Supreme Court had also given a classification of unauthorised religious structures which could be regularised or demolished.
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However, he said specific complaints in Nandurbar should go before the divisional commissioner.
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BJP MLA Sanjay Kute asked what action will be taken against STs who receive caste benefits even after they have converted to another faith. "Strong action should be taken against them since they no longer follow the Adivasi traditions and faith," he said. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkalkar asked when the state would bring in a law against love jihad.
BJP MLA and former minister Sudhir Mungantiwar alleged, "Money coming to institutions from overseas is used for religious conversions and the percentage of Hindus in the population has declined.
We need to see how strong the laws are against religious conversion in other countries."
BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar demanded that action should be taken against govt employees who got the job on the basis of quota and then changed their religion.
Bawankule said he would speak to CM Devendra Fadnavis about an inquiry on the issue.
Bawankule said some of the larger issues about laws in other countries and how to bring converts back into the Adivasi faith and tradition could be discussed between Adivasi MLAs and the tribal welfare minister and they could give their recommendations.
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