In a strongly worded letter addressed to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, BJP MP Dr Rajeshwar Singh has called for immediate central legislation to curb what he termed as organised illegal religious conversions in India. Citing national security, cultural erosion, and the dignity of women, particularly from vulnerable communities, as key concerns.
Dr Singh pressed for urgent parliamentary action.
Referring to recent incidents, including the exposure of an illegal religious conversion racket run by Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba in Uttar Pradesh and an ISIS-linked module in Agra, the MP from Lucknow expressed alarm at what he described as a ‘systemic, ideologically driven assault’ on India’s civilizational values.
Dr Singh’s letter outlines several methods allegedly used in these conversions: coercion, deceit, inducement, and psychological manipulation under the guise of marriage, charity, or social service. He pointed to alarming trends where perpetrators target, convert, and traffic young Hindu girls, especially from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and backwards classes, under false pretences.
Dr Rajeshwar Singh criticised the lack of a national legal framework, stating that while states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have enacted laws to curb unlawful conversions, the absence of a uniform Central law has led to legal loopholes. He noted that foreign-funded proselytisation networks frequently exploit these loopholes.
Notable Gaps Highlighted
- No national law to regulate or penalise mass conversions.
- Weak deterrents for foreign-funded religious conversions.
- No consistent penal standards for fraud involving marriage or false identity.
- Low conviction rates due to lack of central coordination.
Dr Singh urged the Ministry of Law and Justice to take decisive steps to protect the social fabric of the nation and ensure the safety and dignity of its daughters.
He pledged full parliamentary and legal support for any reform efforts initiated in this direction.
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