Government is serious about enacting the anti-conversion law in the State : Mangal Prabhat Lodha

• Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Winter Session 2023

• Unanimous demand of MLAs to enact law to ban conversion

Mangalprabhat Lodha, Minister for Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship

Nagpur (Maharashtra) – ‘We will punish those who try to lure and convert the original tribals. If there is a complaint of forced conversion, the Government will immediately take its cognisance and action will be taken. Government is serious about the anti-conversion law’, Mangalprabhat Lodha, Minister for Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship, asserted in the Legislative Council on 14 ^th December. BJP MLAs Praveen Darekar and Niranjan Davkhare raised the issue of conversion of tribals through a targeted notification.

Minister Lodha said, ‘According to the Constitution of India, tribal, scheduled caste-tribe or other backward class persons are deprived of the privileges of tribal and scheduled caste-tribe if they convert and move away from their original culture. In spite of this, some of the converted persons are receiving dual benefit of Government concessions as tribals and minorities too. MLAs Praveen Darekar, Eknath Khadse, Rajhans Singh and Gopichand Padalkar demanded to bring a law banning conversions to oppose forced and induced conversions of tribals. Deputy Speaker Neelam Gorhe said it was wrong to convert by luring.

Assurance to appoint an investigation committee !

Lodha assured the House by saying that a committee under the chairmanship of the retired Chancellor will be established to investigate the matter. The committee will consist of representatives of all political parties and two people from the tribal community. The committee will submit a report to the Government within 45 days. Strict action will be taken after that.