BM Kamble Condemns Rajasthan’s Anti-Conversion Law Amendments

BM Kamble, National Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of India, unequivocally denounces the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government’s amendments to the Rajasthan Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act, passed by the cabinet on August 31, 2025, and slated for the assembly session starting today. These amendments, imposing life imprisonment and fines up to Rs 50 lakh for alleged forced conversions while exempting “ghar wapsi” (reconversion to Hinduism), are a blatant attack on India’s constitutional values of secularism and religious freedom. They expose the BJP’s hypocrisy in promoting a divisive, majoritarian agenda.

These amendments violate Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to freely practice and propagate their religion. By requiring prior approval from district authorities for conversions and criminalizing vague terms like “inducement” or “forceful propaganda,” the law stifles personal choice and targets minorities, especially Muslims and Christians, under the fabricated pretext of “love jihad.” This narrative, pushed by Hindutva groups, demonizes interfaith relationships and undermines India’s secular foundation, which demands state neutrality across all faiths.

The BJP’s double standards are glaring. The bill exempts “ghar wapsi,” allowing Hindutva groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to conduct mass reconversions to Hinduism without penalty. Historical examples, such as the 2014 mass reconversion drives in Uttar Pradesh, saw thousands of Christians and Muslims coerced back to Hinduism through inducements like economic promises, yet faced no legal consequences. These same acts, when attributed to minorities, are now harshly penalized, revealing the BJP’s intent to entrench Hindu dominance while suppressing other faiths.

Furthermore, the bill’s “good faith” clause shields officials from accountability, risking unchecked harassment of minorities, as seen in similar laws in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where vigilante violence and false cases have surged. The SDPI demands the immediate withdrawal of this discriminatory legislation. We call on all defenders of democracy to protect India’s pluralistic heritage and ensure religion remains a personal choice, free from state coercion.

The BJP’s selective enforcement of conversion laws is a cynical ploy to polarize society for electoral gain. India deserves a future where every citizen’s right to faith is upheld without prejudice.