India's Right Cracks Down On Religious Conversions

You can bet if this story were about a Muslim nation, the uber-right's Islamophobes would be all over it - but since it is about the hard-right Hindifascists of India, they don't care.

Thousands of low-caste Hindus converted to Buddhism and Christianity on Saturday in protest against new laws in several Indian states that make such changes of religion difficult.

The ceremonies took place in the central city of Nagpur to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the conversion to Buddhism of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, a low-caste Hindu and the founder of India's democratic constitution.

Buddhist monks in orange robes and Christian priests administered religious vows in separate ceremonies to about 10,000 Dalits, the politically correct name for those called "untouchables" in the past.


Several states governed by the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have introduced or strengthened laws to stop what it says are forced conversions, mainly by Christian missionaries.

Most of those who converted on Saturday in one of the biggest inter-faith changes in years were poor villagers from the state of Maharashtra where Nagpur is located.

...Under the new laws anyone planning to leave the Hindu fold, the country's majority faith, must obtain certificates from officials and affidavits from courts, stating they were converting out of free will and not by inducements.

Christian groups say these laws are aimed at curbing religious freedom and against the Indian constitution. The anti-conversion laws were condemned by Pope Benedict this year.

"There is complete freedom in the constitution to pick up and follow any faith you chose. Today is the celebration of that freedom," said Joseph D'Souza, president of the All India Christian Council, who presided over the baptism.

"This is not about religion or conversion. It is about a constitutional right, the right to practice one's own religion," said Udit Raj, president of the Indian Justice Party.

If you've ever wondered why India gets on so well with the uber-right of both Israel and the U.S., wonder no longer.