Allahabad High Court: Majority population will become minority one day
- In Reports
- 10:35 PM, Jul 02, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court stated concern over forced or manipulated conversions at religious gatherings, suggesting that if such activities continue, the majority population of the country could eventually become the minority. This observation emerged during a hearing regarding the unlawful conversion of religion in Hamirpur district, Uttar Pradesh.
The court took note of grave accusations against the accused, who allegedly transported villagers from Uttar Pradesh to a purported 'well-being' gathering in Delhi to convert them to “Christianity”. "If this process is allowed to continue, the majority population of this country would one day become a minority. Such religious congregations where conversions are taking place must be immediately stopped to prevent changing the religion of Indian citizens,” the court said.
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal denied bail to Kailash under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The court emphasised the seriousness of the allegations, stating that individuals from Hamirpur were reportedly taken to Delhi and converted, with some never returning back as claimed by the informant.
"In the instant case, there are serious allegations against the applicant by the informant that her brother, along with several others, were taken from their village to attend a gathering in New Delhi and converted to Christianity. The brother of the informant never returned," the court said.
The Allahabad High Court has recently called for an immediate prohibition on religious gatherings involving conversions, asserting that such activities directly conflict with the right to religious freedom guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution which grants individuals the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate their religion, with specific regulations.
The court clarified that "propagation" means promoting one's religion but does not encompass converting individuals from one faith to another. The court highlighted instances where it was alleged that the economically disadvantaged were manipulated to convert to Christianity in several parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Responding to these allegations, the court denied bail to Kailash from Maudaha in Hamirpur district. The case was initiated following a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Ramkali Prajapati, who claimed that Kailash had taken his mentally ill brother to Delhi for treatment, promising to bring him back to the village, but failed to fulfill this promise.
The FIR mentioned that an event was allegedly organised in Delhi where villagers, including Prajapati’s brother, were reportedly converted to Christianity. The FIR also alleges that money was offered to Prajapati’s brother in exchange for his conversion.
Image source: Asia News
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