Christian leaders in Chhattisgarh fear the new anti-conversion law could criminalize routine faith activities and target religious minorities.
Newsroom (23/03/2026 Gaudium Press )Christian leaders in India’s eastern state of Chhattisgarh have voiced deep concern over a controversial new anti-conversion bill that they say could be used to intimidate or criminalize minority communities, particularly Christians.
Passed by the state legislature on March 19, the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 replaces the state’s earlier legislation from 1968, introducing significantly harsher provisions. The bill, which still awaits the assent of the governor before becoming law, imposes severe penalties — including life imprisonment — for anyone found guilty of converting others through what it terms “force, fraud, allurement, or misrepresentation.”
The pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds a majority in the house, championed the bill as a step toward curbing coerced conversions. However, Christian leaders argue the measure is unnecessary and dangerously broad, leaving ample room for abuse by authorities or vigilante groups.
Expanded Definitions and New Restrictions
The new law dramatically widens the definition of “allurement” to include not only direct material inducements — such as cash or gifts — but also digital offers and broader economic incentives. It mandates that any individual wishing to change their religion must file a formal declaration with district officials prior to conversion, while clergy or facilitators of such ceremonies must do the same.
Even after conversion, individuals will face post-event verification by district authorities, creating multiple layers of bureaucratic oversight. The bill also calls for dedicated courts and public prosecutors in each district to fast-track trials linked to conversion cases.
Perhaps most controversially, the legislation explicitly excludes “reconversion” to one’s ancestral religion — typically Hinduism or an indigenous tribal faith — from being classified as a conversion at all. Critics say this exemption institutionalizes a one-sided view of religious freedom.
Fear Among Minority Communities
Kamal Kujur of the Rashtriya Christian Morcha, a national Christian forum, warned that the new law risks labeling routine religious gatherings or community services as attempts at illegal conversion.
“Even routine religious activities, such as prayer gatherings, could be misinterpreted as attempts to lure people into conversion,” Kujur told UCA News on March 23. “Any Christian mission activity could be construed as force, fraud, or allurement — making it easier to target minority communities, particularly Christians and Muslims.”
Kujur urged local Christians to remain “calm but vigilant,” advising communities to exercise caution and ensure that their activities are not “misunderstood” as conversion attempts.
Legal and Constitutional Concerns
Binay Lakra, a Christian activist based in Raipur, criticized the bill as “an infringement on the constitutional right to freedom of religion.” He emphasized that there was no documented evidence of widespread forced conversions in Chhattisgarh to justify such sweeping reforms.
Lakra also highlighted the long-standing contributions of Christian institutions in education and healthcare across the state — sectors that serve millions of people regardless of faith.
Across India, thirteen states currently enforce some form of anti-conversion legislation, known officially as Freedom of Religion Acts. These laws often require prior notification for religious conversions and have been used in many cases to arrest or harass members of minority faiths.
A Chilling Effect on Faith
In Chhattisgarh, Christians constitute less than two percent of the state’s roughly 30 million population. Community leaders now fear that the new bill could deepen mistrust and further marginalize their presence in local society.
The heightened monitoring of religious activities, combined with provisions exempting reconversions to Hinduism, has led to growing unease within both Christian and Muslim groups.
As the bill awaits the governor’s approval, religious leaders continue to appeal for dialogue and transparency, warning that the push for “freedom of religion” may, paradoxically, end up constraining it.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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