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Maharashtra Assembly Passes Freedom of Religion Bill
The law imposes penalties including up to 10 years imprisonment and fines to prevent forced or fraudulent religious conversions, protecting vulnerable groups, officials said.
- On Monday, the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Freedom of Religion Bill-2026 by voice vote, establishing stringent provisions to prohibit religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement, or marriage.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis introduced the legislation, asserting it is "100 per cent constitutional" and noting that similar anti-conversion laws already exist in 12 states, including Odisha and Karnataka.
- The bill mandates a 60-day notice before conversion and 21-day reporting afterward, with repeat offenders facing up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of ₹5 lakh.
- Opposition MLAs criticized the bill as unconstitutional and raised concerns about potential "vigilantism," while challenging government claims of large-scale conversions after only 402 complaints were actually recorded.
- Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray endorsed the bill, stating that while religious freedom must exist, conversions achieved through force, exploitation, or false allurement should be strictly opposed.
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7-Year Jail, Heavy Fines: Maharashtra Passes Freedom Of Religion Bill
The Maharashtra assembly on Monday night passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, which has stringent provisions to prohibit religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement or marriage, by voice vote.
·New Delhi, India
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'Not against any religion': Maharashtra assembly passes Freedom of Religion Bill; Congress calls it unconstitutional, one-sided
MUMBAI: The legislative assembly late Monday passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 tabled by Mahayuti govt. While Sena (UBT) supported it, Congress.
·India
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Freedom of Religion Bill passed in Maharashtra Assembly; 'not against any community', says Fadnavis
As per the Bill, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and shall also be liable for a fine of ₹1 lakh
·India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Right
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources lean Right
43% Right
L 43%
14%
R 43%
Factuality
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