Chhattisgarh will soon introduce stricter law against illegal religious conversions, says Dy CM Sharma

RAIPUR :Chhattisgarh is set to bring a stricter law to curb illegal religious conversions, which will also include provisions to ban ‘changai sabhas’—faith-healing meetings often accused of promoting conversions under the guise of miracles, deputy chief minister and home minister Vijay Sharma said on Monday that the new law would be more comprehensive than those currently in force in other states, incorporating lessons and experiences from across the country.“An Act will be introduced in the upcoming Assembly session, and it will go a step ahead of similar laws elsewhere. There are events like changai sabhas that mislead people in the name of faith. These will also be addressed through specific legal provisions,” Sharma told reporters in Raipur.The proposed legislation is expected to replace or significantly amend the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, which currently governs cases of forced conversions in the state.Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Sharma have both repeatedly stressed that forced and deceitful conversions will not be tolerated and that freedom of religion cannot be misused for coercion or inducement.According to officials, the draft bill aims to tighten procedures around religious conversion—mandating prior declarations, verification mechanisms, and stricter penalties for violations. It will also empower district administrations to monitor and act against gatherings suspected of being used for unlawful conversion drives.