New Delhi, August 10: Buoyed by its victory in scrapping the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, the Modi government is likely to touch another contentious issue in the next Parliament session. The Centre may bring a Bill to prevent religious conversions. The anti-conversion bill will be tabled in the next Parliament session, said a DNA report. Right-wing outfits often allege that Christian missionaries and Muslims convert poor Hindus by luring them with money.
In India, a couple of states have the law that prohibits religious conversion by force and inducement. In 2003 when Narendra Modi was chief minister of Gujarat, the state passed the Freedom of Religion Act that prohibits conversion by force or inducement. Narendra Modi called the passage of the anti-conversion Act as one of the main achievements of his government. The Centre may bring a Bill on the line of Gujarat's anti-conversion law. Jammu and Kashmir Loses Privileges Under Article 370, Article 35A: What Does it Mean For Kashmiris and Other Indians?
The Parliament on Tuesday approved a resolution ending applicability of Article 370 of the Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir and passed a bill for the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. The revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was one of the main promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Triple Talaq Bill Passed in Rajya Sabha 99-84; House Defeats Motion to Send Legislation to Select Committee.
In the recently-concluded Budget Session, the government passed key bills like Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Bill, which bifurcates the state into two Union Territories – Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, and Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, which criminalises triple talaq. The session was one of the most productive session as it passed as many as 30 bills.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, in a press release, said the session has been historic in many ways as legislations relating to almost all walks of socio and economic activities have been passed. "Thirty bills have been passed by both the Houses of Parliament in this session which is a record in single first/effective session after the constitution of new Lok Sabha," the release said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2019 06:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).