Tue Sep 09 19:44:56 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summary based on the provided text, aimed at capturing the essence of the event from an Indian perspective.

**News Article:**

**Rajasthan Passes Stringent Anti-Conversion Bill Amidst Opposition Outcry**

*Jaipur, September 10, 2025:* The Rajasthan Assembly passed a controversial bill on Tuesday aimed at preventing religious conversions deemed to be achieved through force, fraud, allurement, or coercion. The “Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025” prescribes severe penalties, including life imprisonment and fines up to ₹1 crore, particularly in cases of mass conversion.

The bill also includes provisions for the confiscation and demolition of properties involved in mass conversions, with fines paid to victims. Exceptions are made for those returning to their “ancestral religion.”

The move sparked immediate opposition, with Congress MLAs staging a walkout, expressing concerns that the legislation would disrupt communal harmony and create societal divisions. They criticized the bill for being divisive and potentially targeting minority communities.

Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham defended the bill, stating it was necessary to maintain “peace and harmony” and aligning it with the spirit of Article 25 of the Constitution. He argued that while “Sanatana dharma” is liberal, it does not condone conversions through deceitful means.

The bill makes offenses cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by the sessions court. Marriages conducted solely for the purpose of conversion will be declared void.

This legislation makes Rajasthan the latest BJP-ruled state to enact laws aimed at curbing alleged forced religious conversions, joining states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and others with similar measures. This move is likely to fuel further debate on the intersection of religious freedom, individual rights, and the state’s role in regulating conversions within the country. The bill’s passage marks a significant development in the ongoing national conversation surrounding religious conversions and its implications for India’s secular fabric.

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