Repeal of anti-conversion law promised after shock Indian election result

May 20 2004

The Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has announced she will be repealing the anti-conversion law which she introduced less than two years ago.

Ms Jayalalitha said she was repealing the law of October 2002 having listened to the request of the minority communities, most of whom had opposed it all along. She added that she hoped it would also “clear any misconception” which had been caused.

Some observers have linked her sudden decision to the poor showing of her party in the Indian election. State elections in Tamil Nadu are due in two years, and on the current showing of her party’s electoral fortunes, Ms Jayalalitha would lose those elections.

CSW was among the many organisations which opposed the anti-conversion law when it was brought in, and has welcomed this announcement.

India’s Christians have naturally welcomed the news as well as the surprise election result, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Vajpayee removed from office.

Dr Joseph D’Souza, President of the All India Christian Council, described how having the Hindu nationalist BJP in control was a “grim situation”.

He explained how they had taken control of the education system in India, rewriting textbooks and history books and getting control of universities.

He added the BJP was a large funder of the schools run by the Hindu militant group the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to promote the Hindu religion. In addition he said that the BJP had been planning to introduce a nationwide anti-conversion law. This law has already been enacted in five states, banning conversions by ‘force, fraud or allurement’. Whilst innocent sounding, the legislation has meant that in practice humanitarian initiatives have been endangered and even those who freely convert in these states are at risk under this law.

Dr D’Souza said: “Civil society is now looking forward to the rejection of the Hindutva agenda that has affected many areas of Indian life. A national anti-conversion law is now out of the question. Most certainly, there will be a review of the anti-terrorism laws that have been used to victimise the innocent. Civil society wants an immediate review of the education policies adopted by the outgoing dispensation. Most importantly more attention needs to be given to the oppressed people, the Dalits.

“We expect the national government not to condone harassment of minorities and the Dalits. We also expect the processes of justice to be expedited. We expect the government to protect our religious freedom and the freedom to exercise all our spiritual and social rights. Let us pray for India.”

Tina Lambert, CSW’s Advocacy Director said: “CSW welcomes the Chief Minister’s promise to repeal this discriminatory legislation. It comes just after an election result which clearly demonstrates voters’ rejection of the hard-line Hindu nationalist agenda pursued by the BJP in recent years. We hope and expect that the new Government will support the constitutional right to freedom of religion and bring to justice those responsible for acts of violence against minorities. Prayer and campaigning is still needed to ensure human rights are respected at the state and local level.”