In what could be a possible embarrassment to the Narendra Modi government, the Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma has returned the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Bill of 2003 to the Assembly for reconsideration.
The Bill was returned on grounds that it violated Article 25 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right to practice, promote and propagate religion of their choice.
The state government, in September 2006 had sent a draft amendment of the Bill to the Governor which classified Jainism and Buddhism as sects of Hinduism. It also classified Roman Catholics and Protestants as sects of Christianity and anybody who wanted to convert had to take the permission of an official of the collectorate rank.
The Governor had found this objectionable, and asked the State Assembly to reconsider the change.
A press release issued by Raj Bhawan on Tuesday, read: "The proposed amendment would amount to withdrawing the protection against forceful or inappropriate religious conversions, particularly in case of Jains and Buddhists".
