India’s Uttarakhand state just passed tough new laws that crack down on illegal religious conversions. The state government approved these changes on August 13th to protect their Hindu culture and traditions. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami says his state is sacred land where holy people have prayed for ages.
The new law is the first in India to ban religious talk on social media and apps. People who share their faith online could now face serious jail time. Even praising another religion or giving gifts could be seen as trying to convert someone.
The penalties are extremely harsh compared to other states. Simple conversion cases can bring 3 to 10 years in prison. More serious cases involving kids or vulnerable groups can mean 20 years to life behind bars. Heavy fines up to $12,000 can also be added.
Police now have more power to arrest people without warrants. They can also take away property if they think foreign money was used for conversions. District officials can act on suspicion alone without needing solid proof.
The government says these laws stop forced conversions and protect local culture. Uttarakhand sits on a sensitive border and has important Hindu holy sites. Officials worry about demographic changes in their traditional Hindu areas.
Christian groups and minorities are concerned about the new rules. They say the laws are too broad and could be used to target innocent people. Even sharing Bible verses or personal faith stories might be seen as breaking the law.
The ruling BJP party has been pushing similar laws across India since 2014. They want to protect Hindu traditions from what they see as aggressive conversion efforts. Other states are watching to see if they will copy these tough digital media restrictions.
Uttarakhand joins many other Indian states with anti-conversion laws. The state is 83 percent Hindu with very small Christian and Muslim populations. These new rules show how seriously local leaders take protecting their religious heritage and social order.
