MUMBAI: (Jul 17) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said if a person belonging to a religion other than Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism has obtained a Scheduled Caste certificate fraudulently, it will be cancelled.
Action will be taken against such a person if he or she has secured reservation benefits, such as government jobs. If such a person has won an election using a fraudulently obtained SC certificate, their election will be declared null and void, Fadnavis said in the legislative council.
Replying to a `calling attention’ motion, he also said the state government intends to bring in strong provisions to deal with cases of religious conversion through coercion and cheating.
Fadnavis referred to a Supreme Court ruling on November 26, 2024, clarifying that only Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs can avail of Scheduled Caste reservations. Certificates and benefits obtained by others will be invalidated through due process. He also mentioned that monetary benefits gained fraudulently would be recovered. The state government plans to introduce stringent measures to prevent coercive religious conversions.
Amit Gorkhe from BJP raised concerns about the misuse of religious freedom by “crypto Christians,” referring to individuals who secretly practice Christianity while officially belonging to another religion. These individuals reportedly benefit from SC reservations despite professing a different faith.
Fadnavis emphasized that conversion through force or deceit is not permitted by law and will lead to investigations and actions against involved organizations. BJP leader Chitra Wagh highlighted cases where women were deceived into marriages by concealing the husband’s religion. She cited an incident in Sangli where a woman was forced into Christianity and suffered abuse, leading to her death while pregnant. Fadnavis reiterated that conversion should only occur with consent and without coercion or enticement.
The state government has formed a panel led by the Director General of Police to recommend measures for dealing with such cases. The panel has submitted its report, which the government will review to introduce new legal provisions preventing forced conversions. Action can be taken under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in such instances.
Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home, announced plans for an anti-conversion law in the upcoming winter legislative session. This law aims to be stricter than those in other states. Pravin Darekar from BJP claimed there is a covert campaign targeting poor areas and slums for conversions. Fadnavis acknowledged these activities but clarified that consensual religious conversions are not intended to be banned.
The Maharashtra government is committed to addressing fraudulent caste certificate issues and preventing coercive religious conversions. By implementing strict legal measures, it aims to uphold the integrity of reservation benefits and protect individuals from forced religious changes.
