In a dramatic close to Bihar’s budget session, 18 MLAs from the NDA alliance raised the alarm on religious conversions, demanding a tough new law mirroring those in UP and Gujarat. Names like Veerendra Kumar, Janak Singh, and Tar Kishore Prasad featured prominently among the proposers of the attention notice.
They painted a picture of systematic conversions driven by fraud, undue influence, or marriage, particularly in vulnerable border areas. ‘Demography is changing rapidly,’ one lawmaker warned, citing data on church proliferation and population anomalies. Tiwari spotlighted Buxar, alleging 1,000 Dalit households had shifted faiths, often enticed by post-conversion perks like reservations.
The push references successful models elsewhere: penalties up to 10-20 years for coercive tactics. Critics within the house linked this to constitutional safeguards against exploitation. Minister Arun Shankar Prasad deflected, confirming no draft law on the table. Speaker Prem Kumar accepted the notice but shut down debate, hinting at behind-the-scenes governmental deliberation.
As Bihar grapples with these claims, the episode underscores deepening rifts over religious practices and state intervention, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of future elections.