News for 'religious conversion'

UP anti-conversion law applies to both marriages, live-in relationships: HC

UP anti-conversion law applies to both marriages, live-in relationships: HC

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

Justice Renu Agarwal made the observation while rejecting a Hindu-Muslim couple's plea for police protection.

Safety of our daughters: Chh'garh CM defends nuns' arrest amid political row

Safety of our daughters: Chh'garh CM defends nuns' arrest amid political row

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

The arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion has ignited a political controversy, with opposition parties criticizing the arrest and the Chief Minister defending the police action.

Schools won't be allowed to indulge in conversion, warns CM Chouhan

Schools won't be allowed to indulge in conversion, warns CM Chouhan

Rediff.com9 Jun 2023

He had ordered probe into the allegations against the private school that it made students wear hijab-like headscarves, Chouhan told reporters in Morena.

Tribal lands seized in name of 'love jihad', anti-conversion law a must: Chouhan

Tribal lands seized in name of 'love jihad', anti-conversion law a must: Chouhan

Rediff.com12 Dec 2022

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday took note of religious conversions, saying that an anti-conversion law should be made to stop such acts.

Hoardings in villages barring entry to pastors not unconstitutional: HC

Hoardings in villages barring entry to pastors not unconstitutional: HC

Rediff.com2 Nov 2025

The Chhattisgarh high court has disposed of two petitions seeking the removal of hoardings prohibiting entry to pastors and 'converted Christians' in eight villages, holding that they were installed to prevent forced conversions through allurement or fraudulent means and cannot be termed as unconstitutional.

18 held under anti-conversion law in UP; accused sent to 9-day police custody

18 held under anti-conversion law in UP; accused sent to 9-day police custody

Rediff.com29 May 2023

An additional chief judicial magistrate sent the accused to nine days of police remand on Monday.

Conversion a silent invasion, shouldn't be allowed: Bommai

Conversion a silent invasion, shouldn't be allowed: Bommai

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

Terming religious conversion a silent invasion, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the menace of conversion should not be allowed to grow in society.

Karnataka: Literature used for 'conversion' set on fire

Karnataka: Literature used for 'conversion' set on fire

Rediff.com13 Dec 2021

The incident took place on Saturday, when the four people were allegedly propagating Christianity at a house in Kolar.

UP: Mother of 3 kids converts, marries Class 12 student

UP: Mother of 3 kids converts, marries Class 12 student

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

A 30-year-old woman with three children converted to Hinduism and married a 12th-grade student in a temple ceremony in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha district. The woman, previously known as Shabnam, has been married twice before and has no living parents. Police are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the marriage, but no legal complaints have been filed so far. The woman's previous husband was left disabled after a road accident and she obtained a divorce last week. Her new husband's father supports the marriage and wishes the couple happiness.

PIL on anti-conversion laws: Centre in SC questions Teesta NGO's locus standi

PIL on anti-conversion laws: Centre in SC questions Teesta NGO's locus standi

Rediff.com30 Jan 2023

Alleging that the NGO allows its name to be used "at the behest of some selected political interest", the Union of India told the top court that it is guilty of collecting huge funds by exploiting the agonies of riot-affected people.

India slams Pak on gross sexual violence against women

India slams Pak on gross sexual violence against women

Rediff.com20 Aug 2025

India has slammed Pakistan at a UN debate by drawing attention to the heinous crimes of gross sexual violence against women in erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971, adding the pattern continues with impunity to this day.

Bareilly Islamic shrine issues 'fatwa' against forced conversions

Bareilly Islamic shrine issues 'fatwa' against forced conversions

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

A prominent Islamic shrine in Bareilly has issued a decree banning religious conversion by force or allurement, endorsing Uttar Pradesh's recent ordinance aimed at curbing inter-faith marriages as an alleged ploy for conversion.

'Fringe Elements Must Be Brought Under Control'

'Fringe Elements Must Be Brought Under Control'

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

'They should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is.'

Dating During Divorce: Is It Legal?

Dating During Divorce: Is It Legal?

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

'Dating someone during divorce proceedings is legally permissible as long as it does not involve provable physical intimacy,' says lawyer Navaneet Kumar.

TMC MP files counter FIR against Bengal Governor

TMC MP files counter FIR against Bengal Governor

Rediff.com19 Nov 2025

The face-off between Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee and West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose intensified further on Wednesday after the politician lodged a counter-complaint against the state's Constitutional head at the Hare Street Police Station within 24 hours of the latter having filed a first information report (FIR) against the former at the same PS.

'Glorification Of Demolitions Incentivises Leaders'

'Glorification Of Demolitions Incentivises Leaders'

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

'The implementation of the judgment has largely been left to the discretion of the very executive authorities it sought to restrain.'

FCRA licence of NGOs will be scrapped if..., warns govt

FCRA licence of NGOs will be scrapped if..., warns govt

Rediff.com11 Nov 2024

FCRA registration will also be cancelled if any NGO is not utilising foreign funding as per the aims and objectives of the NGO or if it has not uploaded the annual returns, the ministry said.

AstroSpeak: Your Predictions For 2026

AstroSpeak: Your Predictions For 2026

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

Astrologer Chirag Daruwalla, who is following in the footsteps of his famed astrologer father, the late Bejan Daruwalla, helps you navigate the Naya Saal.

BJP vs BJP over Kerala nuns' arrest in Chhattisgarh

BJP vs BJP over Kerala nuns' arrest in Chhattisgarh

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

The Kerala BJP has contradicted the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister's justification of the arrest of two Keralite Catholic nuns, stating they were not involved in human trafficking or forced conversion attempts and promising to help them.

'My Wife Regrets She Married Me'

'My Wife Regrets She Married Me'

Rediff.com24 Dec 2025

Right now, the most important thing is clarity -- for you and for her, advises rediffGURU Kanchan Rai.

Why We Must Worry About India's Human Rights Record

Why We Must Worry About India's Human Rights Record

Rediff.com18 Oct 2025

In May, 40 Rohingyas were blindfolded and flown to the Andaman and Nicobar islands and then thrown into the sea and made to swim to an island in Myanmar. And after the Pahalgam attack, at least 300 Muslims were 'pushed back' to Bangladesh from Assam.

SC rejects plea to ask govt to stop 'fraudulent conversions'

SC rejects plea to ask govt to stop 'fraudulent conversions'

Rediff.com6 Sep 2023

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition seeking a direction to the Centre to take steps to curb fraudulent religious conversions in the country.

SC expunges HC remark on conversions, grants bail to accused

SC expunges HC remark on conversions, grants bail to accused

Rediff.com27 Sep 2024

The top court granted the relief to the accused noting that he was in custody since May 21, 2023, and the charge sheet has been submitted on July 19, 2023.

Anti-conversion bill passed in Karnataka Council

Anti-conversion bill passed in Karnataka Council

Rediff.com15 Sep 2022

The 'Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill' was passed by the Legislative Assembly in December last.

Haryana assembly passes anti-conversion bill amid Congress walkout

Haryana assembly passes anti-conversion bill amid Congress walkout

Rediff.com22 Mar 2022

Similar bills in the recent past have been passed in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.

Will Deepa Thoon Controversy Damage Stalin's DMK?

Will Deepa Thoon Controversy Damage Stalin's DMK?

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

The Deepa Thoon controversy, if not allowed to die a natural death, could take the election focus away from the anti-incumbency impacting the DMK and into the secular space. Stalin would love to have it that way, all over again, after the three past elections, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Increase in hate speech against minorities in India concerning: US

Increase in hate speech against minorities in India concerning: US

Rediff.com27 Jun 2024

India has previously rejected the US state department's annual human rights report on the country, saying they continue to be based on "misinformation and flawed understanding".

Video of AAP minister at 'conversion' event sparks row

Video of AAP minister at 'conversion' event sparks row

Rediff.com7 Oct 2022

Sources in the AAP claimed that the chief minister was 'extremely displeased' with Gautam.

UP Guv okays bill against forced conversions amid Love Jihad row

UP Guv okays bill against forced conversions amid Love Jihad row

Rediff.com28 Nov 2020

The state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier this week approved the draft ordinance to curb forcible or "dishonest" religious conversions including those for the sake of marriage, which could land violators in jail for up to 10 years.

Bajrang Dal forced me to frame nuns: Chhattisgarh woman

Bajrang Dal forced me to frame nuns: Chhattisgarh woman

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

A victim of alleged human trafficking and forceful conversion in Chhattisgarh claims she was coerced by Bajrang Dal activists to give a false statement. She also alleges police did not record her statement properly and that the arrested nuns are innocent.

UP registers 1st case under anti-conversion law in Bareilly

UP registers 1st case under anti-conversion law in Bareilly

Rediff.com29 Nov 2020

Three years ago, the accused started exerting pressure on her to undergo religious conversion and perform 'nikaah' (marriage). But when the woman opposed, he threatened to kidnap her, Tikaram alleged.

Nuns' arrest misunderstanding, bail soon: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Nuns' arrest misunderstanding, bail soon: Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Rediff.com1 Aug 2025

BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh was due to a 'misunderstanding' and that they will be released on bail soon. He met with Archbishop of Trichur Andrews Thazhath to brief him that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister have assured the nuns would be released on bail.

Nurses 'throw' books critical of religion at official in Mumbai

Nurses 'throw' books critical of religion at official in Mumbai

Rediff.com7 Oct 2025

Nurses at a Mumbai hospital allegedly threw books critical of religion at an official who gifted them, claiming the books hurt their religious sentiments. A video of the incident has gone viral.

EOW to probe if MP bishop used embezzled funds for conversions: Chouhan

EOW to probe if MP bishop used embezzled funds for conversions: Chouhan

Rediff.com10 Sep 2022

The EOW conducted searches at the house of PC Singh, the bishop of the Church of North India Jabalpur Diocese, on Thursday morning following registration of a case of cheating against him.

Sacked civic workers in MP vow to leave 'Sanatan Dharma'

Sacked civic workers in MP vow to leave 'Sanatan Dharma'

Rediff.com14 Oct 2025

More than 150 daily wage employees of Chanderi Municipality in Madhya Pradesh's Ashoknagar district have threatened to renounce the "Sanatan Dharma" and embrace some other religion en masse after Diwali to protest their removal from service.

UP BJP chief dissociates party from conversion mess

UP BJP chief dissociates party from conversion mess

Rediff.com16 Dec 2014

'We are against anything that is unconstitutional,' says Laxmikant Bajpai.

UP police makes 1st arrest under new anti-conversion law

UP police makes 1st arrest under new anti-conversion law

Rediff.com3 Dec 2020

Based on a complaint from Tikaram, a resident of Sharif Nagar village in Devarniya, the case was registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the anti-conversion law.

Plea filed in SC for nationwide revision of all electoral rolls

Plea filed in SC for nationwide revision of all electoral rolls

Rediff.com8 Jul 2025

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly before parliamentary, state assembly and local body elections. The court has agreed to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission's decision to undertake special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.

Gujarat police make first arrest under new anti-conversion law

Gujarat police make first arrest under new anti-conversion law

Rediff.com18 Jun 2021

Gujarat police have registered the first FIR in the state under the newly-notified law against forcible or fraudulent religious conversion through marriage, and arrested a 26-year-old man in Vadodara city, a senior official said on Friday.

Yoga guru Ramdev slams conversions

Yoga guru Ramdev slams conversions

Rediff.com21 Oct 2008

Yoga guru Swami Ramdev has criticised religious conversion by inducement and said he would work to build a healthy and stronger India by taking the benefits of yoga and ayurveda to more than six lakh villages in two years.