RSS pushes for anti-conversion law in Jharkhand

John Malhotra

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is pushing for an anti-conversion law in Jharkhand.

On Sunday, the chief of the RSS state unit, Jaggnath Sahi, told media that it would prompt the BJP-led government to draft a law that will prohibit religious conversion.

Stating that countries like China, Israel and others have banned conversion, Sahi said the same was needed in India. 
Currently, anti-conversion laws are in force in six states – Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. 

In fact, the RSS, BJP and few fringe radical Hindu groups have been zealously pursuing for a national anti-conversion law which is contradictory to Article 25 of the Constitution which asserts freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion.

Although these laws are to curb religious conversions made by force, fraud or allurement, they have been invoked to make false accusations and arrests against Christians.

Incidentally, many members of these saffron outfits, including the RSS were recently accused of carrying out bomb blasts across the country. 

Not surprisingly, the Rajasthan police has named senior RSS functionary, Indresh Kumar, as one of the key conspirators in the 2007 terror attack on the Ajmer dargah that killed three people. Four of the five accused in the blast have links with RSS.

On Wednesday, the RSS will hold a nation-wide agitation to protest against what it calls attempts to defame the 85-year-old organisation. The protest meetings will be held at all the district headquarters and will be reportedly addressed by top functionaries.

Last month, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi branded the RSS as ‘fanatical’ and equated it with the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Christian Today India
November 8, 2010