RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed a heated political showdown on Thursday following the introduction and the passing of the ‘Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026’.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also holds the Home portfolio, tabled the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantraya Vidheyak, 2026 (Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026), in the House, sparking immediate and sharp resistance from the opposition benches. Congress staged a walkout, boycotting proceedings.
The BJP government moved the bill to overhaul its decades-old anti-conversion laws. The bill provides a more robust legal framework to prevent religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, allurement, or misrepresentation.
CM Vishnu Deo Sai described the passing of the Bill as a significant milestone for preserving the state’s cultural identity and maintaining social equilibrium.
"Allurement in the modern age isn't just physical, it can take digital and economic forms," home minister Sharma noted. "Congress chose to walkout rather than engage. This was a strategic evasion, as participating in such a debate would have adversely impacted their vote banks”, he added.
The government pushed for stricter regulations on religious conversions and the opposition flagging legal and procedural hurdles, the political temperature in Chhattisgarh is expected to rise significantly in the coming days.
Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant raised a formal objection to an immediate discussion on the bill. He argued that similar legislations from eleven other states are currently pending before various courts across the country. He demanded that the bill be sent to a Select Committee for detailed examination. However, the Speaker overruled the objection following which Congress MLAs left the House and protested outside.
The legislation seeks to provide justice to victims and strictly penalise those found guilty of unlawful conversion activities. The new law intends to introduce several stringent measures to ensure swift justice and deterrence like illegal conversion has been classified as a cognizable and non-bailable offense, allowing law enforcement to make arrests without a warrant and making it harder for accused individuals to secure immediate bail. Convicted individuals will be required to provide financial compensation to the victims.
To ensure "speedy justice", the government will establish Special Courts in every district. Additionally, Special Public Prosecutors will be appointed to handle these cases.
The legislation explicitly states that returning to one’s original or ancestral religion will not be considered "conversion" under this law.
Any attempt to convert an individual through pressure, allurement, or misrepresentation—whether via physical or digital means—will carry imprisonment of 7 to 10 years with fine ₹5 Lakh.
The most severe penalties are reserved for mass conversion events. Those found guilty of organising or facilitating large-scale conversions will face imprisonment of 10 years to Life Imprisonment (Rigorous) besides a minimum fine of ₹25 Lakh.
This legislative move marks one of the strictest anti-conversion legal frameworks in the country, aiming to eliminate coercion while safeguarding social and religious integrity.
The Chhattisgarh Cabinet on March 10 this year approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026.