Supreme Court wants crackdown on forced religious conversion

Forceful religious conversion is a very serious issue that threatens the freedom and security of the country and citizens, along with their freedom of conscience, the Supreme Court observed.A bench of Justices MR Shah and Hima Kolhi said that conversions through force and coercion is very dangerous and while everyone has freedom of religion, religious conversion cannot be through force.”Issue is very serious and may ultimately affect the freedom and security of the country and citizens, along with their freedom of conscience,” the Court said.It, therefore, directed the Central government to file a counter affidavit on the steps taken by it to curb conversion by force.The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 28, 2022.The order was passed on a plea by BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking stringent steps to control religious conversion through fraud and intimidation.