Conversions Occur Due To Good Character & Without Using Sword: Ghulam Nabi Azad On Anti-Conversion Bill

Ghulam Nabi Azad said that people get converted willingly when they see a "religion serving humanity". He also added that if someone is converting people, it is not on the basis of his sword. 

(File Photo/ Getty Images)

BJP government in Karnataka passed the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly referred to as Anti-Conversion Bill, on Thursday by voice vote in the state legislative assembly. Since then, there is a heated debate on this issue.

Congress leader and the former CM of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state said that people get converted willingly when they see a "religion serving humanity". He also added that if someone is converting people, it is not on the basis of his sword. 

“If anyone is converting people, he is not using a sword. It is good work and character of individuals which influence others to convert. People convert when they see a particular religion serving humanity and not discriminating,” Azad said in a statement, according to an ANI report.

If anyone is converting people, he is not using a sword. It is good work & character of individuals which influence others to convert. People convert when they see a particular religion serving humanity & not discriminating: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in J&K (25.12) pic.twitter.com/bDRimH4u9H

— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2021

The opposition parties in the Karnataka Assembly said that the bill will cause a communal uproar in the state and it is only brought to “target a particular religion.”

“No person shall convert or attempt to convert either directly or otherwise any other person from one religion to another by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage, nor shall any person abet or conspire for conversions,” the Bill states.

Karnataka Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan said, "This was a much-awaited Bill. It will facilitate transparency and accountability. It is a forward-looking Bill that will address many challenges being currently faced. It will create harmony in the society," to ANI.

The Anti-Conversion Bill makes religious conversion a non-bailable offense with up to 10 years of imprisonment and up to Rs 1 lakh of penalty if proved to be guilty of forceful conversion, allurement or marriage, coercion.