Maharashtra Main Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that if a person belonging to a religion other than Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism has obtained a fraudulently planned caste certificate, it will be canceled.
“Measures will be taken against such a person if they ensure reservation benefits such as government jobs. If such a person has won the elections using a fraudulent SC certificate, their election will be declared invalid,” Fadnavis said in the Legislative Council.
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He replied to the proposal to attention and also stated that the state government intends to bring strong provisions to deal with cases of religious conversion by coercion and cheating.
Amit Gorkhe (BJP) claimed that “crypto Christians” abuse the freedom of religion and some people benefit from reservations in the SC category and profess other religions.
The “crypto Christians” was an apparent reference to people who discreetly followed Christianity and belonged to another religion on paper.
At first glance, they belong to the SC community and gain benefits of reservation such as government work, he said.
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Fadnavis said that the Supreme Court, November 26, 2024, issued a judgment showing that only Hindu, Buddhists and Sikhs could be used by those who belong to other religions.
“If one of the religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism used the SC certificate or reservation, their validity and caste certificate will be canceled with proper procedure.
“Restoration (cash benefits) will be recommended from those who have taken advantage of fraudulently obtained caste certificates,” he said.
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BJP leader Chitra Wagh said there were cases where women were cheated in marriage by hiding a husband’s religion.
She quoted the case in Sangli, where a woman married a family that secretly followed Christianity. The woman suffered torture and was forced to change her religion, which led to her death when she was pregnant for seven months, Wagh said.
The person can monitor any religion and transfer another person with consent, but the law does not allow the use of strength, cheating or lure for conversion, the main minister said.
“Complaints about the coercion or induction of conversion will lead to investigation and action against the organization in question,” Fadnavis added.
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The state government created a panel headed by the CEO of the police (DGP) to issue a recommendation to solve these cases and submit its report, he said.
The government will study it and bring new (legal) provisions so that the conversion does not occur by violence or cheating, he said.
“In such cases, steps within Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhit (BNS) can be taken.
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On Monday, Pankaj Bhoyar, State Minister for Home, said that the state will bring the law against conversion during the winter meeting and will be stricter than similar legislation in other countries.
Pravin Darekar (BJP) claimed that the secret campaign to lure people to transform was carried out in bad locations and slums.
Fadnavis acknowledged that such things were taking place in slums. However, he said that the government does not intend to ban religious conversions that are consensus.
(Tagstotranslate) religious conversion
