The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday demanded that the “RSS-sponsored re-conversion campaign” be prohibited under the provisions of the law.
In a statement, the Polit Bureau – which is currently meeting in the Capital – said the BJP and the RSS are indulging in doublespeak by talking about religious conversions. While on the one hand RSS organisations are conducting a re-conversion campaign targeting minorities, the BJP leadership is demanding a law to ban forcible conversions. Flagging this, the CPI(M) said the twin demands are not just directed against minorities but also aimed at sharpening communal divisions.
According to the Polit Bureau, there is no need for such a law as Article 25 of the Indian Constitution provides for “freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religions.” If there is any forcible conversion it is already covered under Indian Penal Code (Section 153(a)) as it classifies forcible attempts in the name of religion as a criminal offence.
