02-13-2007, 02:11 AM
Bouquet from BJP, brickbats from the church for CM Virbhadra
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/23151.html
BY ASHWANI SHARMA -February 12, 2007 <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A daily newsletter from the states: The Congress
government in Himachal Pradesh has passed a legislation â the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2006â which marks forced religious conversion, especially of Dalits and tribals, as a punishable offence. The Bill, which was passed by the state Assembly in its Winter Session recently held at Dharmshala, now awaits Governor V S Kokjeâs assent. According to the legislation passed, a minimum of two years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000, or both will be imposed on anyone found guilty of abetting and indulging in conversion from one religion to another by use of force, inducement or fraudulent means.In case of conversion of women and those from Dalit and tribal communities, the punishment would be three yearsâ RI besides a fine of Rs 50,000.
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<b>The figures presented in the Assembly by the CM, who also happens to be the minister in charge of Home, show that nearly 500 conversions have taken place in
the state in the past four years. Of these, at least 400 are in Shimla district â including Rohru and Chirgaon areas represented by the CM. Those converted were mostly tribals, Buddhists and Dalits. Most conversions have taken place in interior and backward areas of the state. Shankar, a handicap from Shimlaâs downhill vicinity where several leprosy-affected families dwell, was the first to raise his voice against conversion when a missionary group tried to convert him in 1998-99. He also lodged a complaint with the local administration regarding this. Hindu organisations, particularly the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the RSS, allege that there have been several other cases of conversion that have gone unreported in the past 10 years. âThe actual figures are frightening,â said Ganesh Dutt, an RSS activist.</b>
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http://www.indianexpress.com/story/23151.html
BY ASHWANI SHARMA -February 12, 2007 <!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A daily newsletter from the states: The Congress
government in Himachal Pradesh has passed a legislation â the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2006â which marks forced religious conversion, especially of Dalits and tribals, as a punishable offence. The Bill, which was passed by the state Assembly in its Winter Session recently held at Dharmshala, now awaits Governor V S Kokjeâs assent. According to the legislation passed, a minimum of two years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 25,000, or both will be imposed on anyone found guilty of abetting and indulging in conversion from one religion to another by use of force, inducement or fraudulent means.In case of conversion of women and those from Dalit and tribal communities, the punishment would be three yearsâ RI besides a fine of Rs 50,000.
........................
<b>The figures presented in the Assembly by the CM, who also happens to be the minister in charge of Home, show that nearly 500 conversions have taken place in
the state in the past four years. Of these, at least 400 are in Shimla district â including Rohru and Chirgaon areas represented by the CM. Those converted were mostly tribals, Buddhists and Dalits. Most conversions have taken place in interior and backward areas of the state. Shankar, a handicap from Shimlaâs downhill vicinity where several leprosy-affected families dwell, was the first to raise his voice against conversion when a missionary group tried to convert him in 1998-99. He also lodged a complaint with the local administration regarding this. Hindu organisations, particularly the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the RSS, allege that there have been several other cases of conversion that have gone unreported in the past 10 years. âThe actual figures are frightening,â said Ganesh Dutt, an RSS activist.</b>
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