RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed a heated political showdown on Thursday following the introduction 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. A discussion on the bill will be held later.
The BJP government moved the bill to overhaul its decades-old anti-conversion laws. The proposed bill, which seeks to effectively curb conversion from one faith to another through force, allurement, undue influence or false representation, was approved in the state cabinet last week.
Speaking to the reporters, Sharma said that the bill expands upon provisions that have existed since 1968 by incorporating newer dimensions of inducement.
He noted that allurement could take various forms, including digital and economic means, while threats could also be physical or indirect.
"A structured legal framework has been designed to ensure that people's constitutional freedom is not affected, while preventing situations that could lead to social discord," he added.
With the government pushing 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.
Leading the charge in the House, 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.
"Directly debating this bill is inappropriate given its legal sensitivity," Mahant opined. He demanded that the bill be referred to a select committee of the Assembly for a comprehensive and detailed examination before any further legislative action is taken.
Currently, the Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantraya Adhiniyam (Freedom of Religion Act), 1968, is in force in the state.
It was adopted from Madhya Pradesh after Chhattisgarh was carved out of it in 2000.