Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai has ordered an inquiry into the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in the game of conversion in the name of education and health. There are NGOs on the target of agencies, which are funded from abroad. There are a total of 153 institutions in Chhattisgarh, which are registered under the ‘Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FERA) to take funding from abroad. Their financial investigation has started.
Of the total 153 NGOs registered under Fera in the state, 52 of them have described themselves as associated with Christian community. In fact, the activities of these NGOs created in the name of health, education and other social work have been found suspicious. Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai had also warned about this. He described conversion as against not only immoral, but also the basic spirit of the Constitution.
CM Sai had said that information has been received about some suspects NGOs, who are involved in conversion work. He had said that these NGOs take funding from abroad in the name of education and health and use it for conversion. In the name of illiteracy, poverty, healing or folk-world, people are being forcibly converted by seduction and greed.
He had said that it would be investigated and found out from where and how they are using these money to these NGOs. In this case, the new world daily newspaper examined FCRA registered institutions and found that most of the NGOs selected tribal areas as their work site.
FCRAs in Bastar are being conducted by Christian missionaries registered by 9 out of 19 registered and 15 out of 18 in Jashpur. Most of the institutions are being operated in Jashpur by Christians in the state. The conversion is also the highest here. It is said that more than 35 percent of the total population of Jashpur has become Christians.
An RTI was filed in Jashpur in March 2024 regarding the number of Christians. It was told that only Only 210 people are legally But he was converted to Christians and all of them have died. At the same time, according to the 2011 census report, 22.5 percent of the people of Jashpur called themselves Christians. Now this figure has almost doubled.
Please tell that there have been 13 FIRs in 11 months regarding conversion in the state. At the same time, 23 different complaints have been received in Bastar division. According to media reports, in the budget session of Chhattisgarh, the BJP government of the state can bring new and strict laws on conversion. It is being said that preparations have also started.
The new law is named Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act. Its draft has been prepared after studying the related laws of three states. After the implementation of the new law, information will have to be given before conversion. In addition, the marriage will be invalid when she converts without permission.
It would be a crime to make conversion with entertaining or greed. At the same time, conversion of two or more people has been included in collective conversion. Provision has been made for such crime to jail up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 2 lakh. Hiding his religion at the time of marriage from a person/woman of another religion will also be in the category of crime.
According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, in Chhattisgarh, in the new anti -conversion draft, illegal conversion of minor, women, scheduled castes or scheduled tribes can be jailed for 2 years to 10 years. At the same time, minimum from 3 years to maximum if found guilty of collective conversion Sentenced to 10 years And there may be a fine of Rs 50,000.
The draft of the law states that the conversion was not illegal, it would be the responsibility of the person who converts and conducting it. It remains to be seen whether this conversion amendment bill can be passed in the House or not, because it has not been passed from the House twice before.
