Maharashtra will bring law to stop forceful religious conversions, says minister

On Monday, replying to a discussion on calling attention motion on the issue of allegations of conversions of girls with special needs at the ashram of Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission in Pune, Bhoyar said, “There are around 10 states in the country which have a law against the forceful religious conversions. Maharashtra will be the eleventh state.”

“Realising the importance of this matter, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already appointed a committee under the Director General of Police to study the issue of religious conversions. Once the report is submitted, based on that report, the state will bring a law to prevent forceful religious conversions,” he added.

BJP MLC Uma Khapre had raised a calling attention motion demanding action against the ashram and the formation of the SIT. “I have been raising the issue for over a year. The approval of this ashram must be cancelled,” said Khapre.

Bhoyar said that a team under a woman official is probing the case and the report will be made available within a month.

“Based on the report, the file will be moved for the cancellation of the license of the ashram to the appropriate department,” he said.