Jharkhand assembly passes anti-conversion, land bills

Ranchi, August 12 (IANS): Amid protests by the opposition, the Jharkhand Assembly on Saturday passed the Religious Independence Bill, 2017, banning conversions, and an amendment to the Land Acquisition Act 2013, removing the need for social impact assessment for certain category of projects. The opposition walked out when voting was taking place on both the bills. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Stephen Marandi raised questions over both the bills. Legislators of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party however termed it the need of the time. The bill has been tabled after a delay of 15 years. A person’s religion cannot be changed by offering bread. Jharkhand has witnessed largescale conversion.” According to the anti-conversion bill, which forbids conversion through allurement or coercion, anyone forcing religious conversion will be liable to imprisonment of three to four years and a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The amendment to the Land Acquisition Act 2013 removed the need for social impact assessment for important social and economic projects meant for the welfare of the people.