Action against illegal conversions in Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said strict law will be made

Chhattisgarh Illegal Conversions: Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said on Monday that his government will soon enact a new law to stop illegal conversion in the state. Sharma gave this information after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former minister Ajay Chandrakar raised the issue of alleged illegal conversion in the Assembly through a proposal.

Raising the issue, Chandrakar claimed that under the guise of the healing meeting in the state, they are being converted to innocent, helpless, poor people. He alleged that non-government organizations formed with the aim of working in health, education and social work are receiving money from abroad and allegedly using it for conversion activity. There are many non-governmental organizations in the state, which are registered on religious grounds and they are also getting money from abroad.

He said that nine out of 19 organizations registered in Bastar district and 15 out of 18 institutions in Jashpur district are being run by Christian missionaries. Due to lack of control over these institutions, conversion is also being encouraged.

Chandrakar said that most of the institutions are being conducted in Jashpur district (Home District of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai), where most cases of conversion are reported.

MLA Chandrakar also cited some cases of conversion lodged with the police in Bilaspur and Raipur districts at the beginning of the year.

He claimed, ‘Use of foreign funding in conversion cannot be denied. However, the government claims to ban such funds, but the institutions find their way out by not giving audit reports. In his reply, Deputy Chief Minister Sharma said that it is not right to say that incidents like conversion are increasing day by day due to lack of control of local administration on the non-governmental organization (NGO) in the state.

He said that on receiving complaints of seduction and conversion of people under the guise of healing assembly, the police takes quick legal action by conducting proper investigation.

Sharma said that in 2020, a case was registered in such an incident (illegal conversion), seven cases in 2021, three cases in 2022, no cases in 2023, 12 cases in 2024 and four cases have been registered in the state so far this year.

He said that prompt legal action is being taken by the police administration on receiving complaints related to conversion. Sharma said that if evidence is found against a person or institution in the investigation, appropriate legal action is taken.

After this, Chandrakar said that the matter is very serious and Chief Minister Vishnudev Siya recently said (about the inspection of the NGOs receiving foreign funds in the state to ensure that such assistance is not being used in illegal activities including conversion).

He further asked about the details of the NGOs receiving foreign funds in the state and the complaint was received against such institutions.

Sharma said that the NGOs receiving foreign funds are registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and the Ministry of Home Affairs monitors these organizations to receive foreign funds. Earlier there were 364 NGOs in the state, who were getting foreign funds. The Act was amended in 2020. Later, 84 such NGOs were banned in the state and 127 others were automatically closed. Currently 153 NGOs who receive foreign funds are working in the state.

He said that there is a process that if the state gets any complaint against such NGOs involved in illegal activities, then the Ministry of Home Affairs is informed about further action. The state government has also decided to audit organizations which mostly work in the field of health and education, which get financial assistance from the state government in the last three years.

Sharma said that which organization got how much money and when and his financial audit will be done for the last three years. After this, Chandrakar asked whether the government would bring new provisions or laws to prevent illegal conversion.

The Deputy Chief Minister said, Sai Sarkar is very serious to stop such incidents. The Religion Independence Act is applicable in Chhattisgarh, but the government is thinking that new legal provisions should be implemented. He said that new provisions will be implemented at appropriate time. Talking to reporters in the assembly premises, Sharma said that the police administration is working seriously to stop illegal conversion. He said, ‘At present, action is being taken under the old provisions. The government is considering the need for new provisions. We will soon bring a new law. A tough law will be enacted soon to prevent illegal conversion.

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