Forced conversions will be prohibited by law : Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

BJP MLAs raise voice against religious conversions in Legislative Council
Action inevitable against converted Christians misusing quotas through forged documents

– Sachin Kaulkar, Correspondent, Sanatan Prabhat

Mumbai, 17 July – Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Legislative Council that, in light of the Supreme Court judgment dated 26 November 2024, action will be taken against individuals of other religions who submit fake caste certificates to claim Scheduled Caste reservation benefits. If someone has used such a certificate for Government jobs or to contest elections, action will be initiated. He assured the House that the State Government will bring in a provision to prohibit conversions carried out through coercion, allurement or deceit.

Fadnavis was responding to a Calling Attention Motion raised by BJP MLA Amit Gorkhe. BJP legislators Chitra Wagh, Praveen Darekar, and Uma Khapre also took part in the discussion.

MLA Amit Gorkhe stated:

“‘Crypto-Christians’ — those who are officially Hindu by name and Government records, but inwardly follow Christianity — are misusing the right to religious freedom to convert vulnerable sections of Hindu society, especially Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Nomadic Tribes. If a person’s last rites are performed according to Christian rituals, that in itself proves conversion. Yet such individuals continue to use Hindu names and caste certificates to unfairly claim reservation benefits in education, jobs, and elections. This is happening in places like Nandurbar, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ahilyanagar. Due to such hypocrisy, genuine beneficiaries from the truly deprived sections are denied what is rightfully theirs. Secretly practising Christianity while retaining Hindu credentials for quota benefits is an unethical act and a fraud on the Constitution. Legal action must be taken against such individuals.”

MLA Chitra Wagh demands anti-conversion law in Maharashtra

“Crypto-Christians are also deceiving women, pushing some to the point of suicide. In Sangli, a seven-month pregnant Hindu woman was subjected to physical and mental torture for refusing to accept Christianity, and she ended her life. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, girls in a children’s hostel were being forced to convert to Christianity. This clearly shows the need for an anti-conversion law in the state.”

Action must be taken against Christian institutions carrying out conversions : MLA Uma Khapre

“The issue of the ‘Pandita Ramabai Mission’ has come up repeatedly in the House for over a year. Girls at the institution were allegedly beaten, forced to convert to Christianity, and even made to clean toilets. We were assured that the institution’s recognition would be cancelled. Will the Government investigate other such Christian organisations and take action against them too?”

Measures must be taken to curb conversions : MLA Praveen Darekar

“In the slums of Mumbai, Christian missionaries exploit poverty by distributing notebooks, clothes, and offering emotional relief to win over people. This is psychological manipulation. I can even name places in Mumbai where missionary training is underway. Police, in the name of avoiding communal tension, are doing nothing. Concrete steps must be taken to prevent such conversions.”

We will enact a strict law against forced conversions : CM Fadnavis

“While voluntary conversion is not banned in India, conversions through inducement or coercion are unacceptable. The occurrence of conversions is a reality. As per the Supreme Court’s ruling, SC reservations apply only to Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs. A blanket crackdown on all organisations is not required; action will be taken based on specific complaints. A committee headed by the Director General of Police has submitted a report recommending a strong anti-conversion law. We will study the report and introduce necessary amendments.”

Editorial Perspectives

This entire debate shows how deep the conspiracy of religious conversion has penetrated India’s social fabric. The time for warnings has passed — it is now time for concrete, uncompromising legislation and strict enforcement.

Crypto-Christians are cheating both religion and the Constitution — and those enabling them from within the system must also be held accountable !