On December 30, the government of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh passed an anti-conversion bill that dictates new penalties for charges of forced conversion. Under this bill, a person found "forcibly converting" another person could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and/or fined up to 25,000 rupees ($665 CAD). The bill also states that those who want to convert to another religion must give the district government at least thirty days' notice or face fines up to 1,000 rupees ($27 CAD). This is the first time that such a bill has been passed in a state that is governed by the Congress Party, which previously challenged the passage of similar "religious freedom" laws in states such as Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The law requires the governor's signature to come into effect.
Pray that Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, governor of Himachal Pradesh, will not sign this bill into law. Ask God to continue to draw people in India to Himself, in spite of anti-conversion efforts of their persecutors. Pray that those who are currently accused of false conversion will set Christ apart as Lord without giving in to fear of their accusers (1 Peter 3:13-17).
For more information on the persecution facing India's Christians, click here.
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