Indian Christians protest anti-conversion bill in Rajasthan
-08/05/06
The National Cou
Indian Christians protest anti-conversion bill in Rajasthan
-08/05/06
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), India’s largest coordinating body of Protestant and Orthodox churches, has criticised the Rajasthan Government for proposing the controversial anti-conversion Bill and for failing to ensure the safety and security of minority communities in the state ñ says India correspondent Jacob Chatterjee of Christian Today.
In a meeting convened in Jaipur late last month, the NCCI heard from representatives of the Jaipur Christian Fraternity, who shared stories of their plight in the state and the threats posed by the controversial Bill.
“The Rajasthan State Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006, brings pressure on religious minorities and also provides leverage to fundamentalist forces,” said NCCI general secretary, Bishop D.K. Sahu, expressing his deep anguish over the rise in incidents of anti-Christian violence by sectarian groups.
As reported on Ekklesia, Muslims and secularists have also opposed the Bill and its counterparts elsewhere in India, because of its likely impact on civil and human rights.
According to Bishop Sahu, the Bill – passed by the state legislative assembly on 7 April 2006 – is on the same lines as those passed in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chattisgarh and was part of a coordinated strategy against religious minorities.
“The proposed Bill curtails fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution to practice, preach and propagate one’s own religion,” he said, adding that choosing a religion is a matter of faith and is neither a question of conversion nor an adherence to the religion of forefathers.
“We, as citizens of India, strongly register our protest to the Rajasthan Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006,” Bishop Sahu said, noting that the severe penal clauses in the Bill placed a person, charged under its provisions, on the same level as one charged for rioting or causing death by negligence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In a statement to the media, NCCI has also criticized BJP president, Rajnath Singh’s statement that BJP led states would enact laws against “forced conversion” and said that such states were “humiliating” the minorities.
The NCCI said it has organised a meeting on 18-19 May to discuss the Bill and to take legal advice.
A NCCI delegation, led by Bishop Sahu, the Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan, (chair of the Commission on National Issues) and two officers discussed possible means of coordinating efforts against the Bill at the local, regional and national level.
They and placed emphasis on moving towards a dialogue between the non-denominational and mainline churches, so as to arrive at a common understanding of mission.
Ecumenical documents, such as those produced by members of the World Council of Churches, draw a strong distinction between the legitimate sharing of faith and manipulative proselytism.
The NCCI delegation also called upon Pratibha Patil, Governor of Rajasthan, to formally protest against the situation in Rajasthan, and to draw her attention to the denial of freedom to minority communities through anti-conversion Bill.
[Also on Ekklesia: Secularists join Christians and Muslims to oppose Indian anti-conversion law; Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs; Christians say indian election result is answer to their prayers]
Indian Christians protest anti-conversion bill in Rajasthan
-08/05/06
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), India’s largest coordinating body of Protestant and Orthodox churches, has criticised the Rajasthan Government for proposing the controversial anti-conversion Bill and for failing to ensure the safety and security of minority communities in the state ñ says India correspondent Jacob Chatterjee of Christian Today.
In a meeting convened in Jaipur late last month, the NCCI heard from representatives of the Jaipur Christian Fraternity, who shared stories of their plight in the state and the threats posed by the controversial Bill.
“The Rajasthan State Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006, brings pressure on religious minorities and also provides leverage to fundamentalist forces,” said NCCI general secretary, Bishop D.K. Sahu, expressing his deep anguish over the rise in incidents of anti-Christian violence by sectarian groups.
As reported on Ekklesia, Muslims and secularists have also opposed the Bill and its counterparts elsewhere in India, because of its likely impact on civil and human rights.
According to Bishop Sahu, the Bill – passed by the state legislative assembly on 7 April 2006 – is on the same lines as those passed in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chattisgarh and was part of a coordinated strategy against religious minorities.
“The proposed Bill curtails fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution to practice, preach and propagate one’s own religion,” he said, adding that choosing a religion is a matter of faith and is neither a question of conversion nor an adherence to the religion of forefathers.
“We, as citizens of India, strongly register our protest to the Rajasthan Freedom of Religion Bill, 2006,” Bishop Sahu said, noting that the severe penal clauses in the Bill placed a person, charged under its provisions, on the same level as one charged for rioting or causing death by negligence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In a statement to the media, NCCI has also criticized BJP president, Rajnath Singh’s statement that BJP led states would enact laws against “forced conversion” and said that such states were “humiliating” the minorities.
The NCCI said it has organised a meeting on 18-19 May to discuss the Bill and to take legal advice.
A NCCI delegation, led by Bishop Sahu, the Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan, (chair of the Commission on National Issues) and two officers discussed possible means of coordinating efforts against the Bill at the local, regional and national level.
They and placed emphasis on moving towards a dialogue between the non-denominational and mainline churches, so as to arrive at a common understanding of mission.
Ecumenical documents, such as those produced by members of the World Council of Churches, draw a strong distinction between the legitimate sharing of faith and manipulative proselytism.
The NCCI delegation also called upon Pratibha Patil, Governor of Rajasthan, to formally protest against the situation in Rajasthan, and to draw her attention to the denial of freedom to minority communities through anti-conversion Bill.
[Also on Ekklesia: Secularists join Christians and Muslims to oppose Indian anti-conversion law; Pope accused of interfering in Indian affairs; Christians say indian election result is answer to their prayers]