Hindu terrorist parties are trying to block the road of Dalits to liberation through conversion. All the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are converts and liberated from Hinduism.
True, there have been mass conversions since 1956 but the spirit of conversions seemed to have been indented with political aspirations of some. Politics of numbers (vote bank politics) has become order of the day. Most conversions are made as a result of force or fraud and are politically motivated Illiterate, impoverished and vulnerable; Scheduled Castes are being misled into converting to a particular religion. This is the major premise based on which anti-conversion laws have been passed in Orrisa, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and now Rajasthan. Thus, though the aim of such acts was to prohibit forced conversions, it made even genuine conversions very difficult.
Reconversions welcomed: The recent Rajasthan Dharam Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill (2008) has provisions that are very stringent and arbitrary. For instance, Section 4(2) of the Bill, states that if a society or trust is found to be “contemplating” the use of money for converting people, its registration can be cancelled. In addition, Section 5(1) makes it mandatory for anyone intending to convert to send notice at least 30 days intending nce or face a fine of up to Rs. 1,000. It adds that he same requirement and penalty will not be applied to
a person wishing to “revert” to her or his “original religion” and so re-conversions are kept out of the ambit of the Bill. This is based on an unfounded assumption that a person who renounces a religion always does so out of some pressure or financial benefit.
Such legislations question the very act of religious conversions which have formed an important part of various religious communities for a very long time.
Emperor Asoka had embarked upon this endeavour in the third century BC. Then Christ and his missionaries had done the same. Similarly, Dr. Ambedkar had directed the Dalits onto the same path.
Then, were these people wrong in doing so? Could you have imprisoned and punished Dr. Ambedkar for wanting to convert Dalits to Budhism?
As per the present anti-conversion laws of the various states, it seemed like he could as well be implicated for such acts. Then are such laws justified? Doesn’t the preamble to our constitution speak of liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship? Then how can a leader directing a Dalit into conversion be convicted as an offender or how can a Dalit’s right to choose his own destiny be curbed by a mere legislation? The right to faith and belief is an essential human right and an important fundamental right. One should be free to choose ones religion after weighing the pros and cons of various religions. Thus, there should be no place for anti-conversion laws in India.
