The issue of religious conversion remains a controversial one in India. India's attorney general, Milon Banerjeein, in an advisory opinion to the governor, has ruled that amendments to the anti-conversion law passed by the legislature of Madhya Pradesh state last year is an unconstitutional violation of citizens' fundamental rights. The governor, Balram Jakhar, has not yet given his approval to the amendments. Indian Catholic reports that the amendments require individuals who wish to convert to obtain prior approval from the local district administration, and require those conducting the conversion to inform the district magistrate one month in advance.
Meanwhile, the Hindu organization, Vishva Hindu Parishad, is urging the president of India to expel all foreign missionaries from the coutnry arguing that the Indian constitution only protects the right of Indian citizens to propagate religious views. The Organiser reports that a memo from VHP to President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam last month also called for a ban on foreign funds coming to missionaries in the country, confiscation of literature that insults Hindu deities, an investigation of activities of foreign missionaries, and a nation-wide law banning conversion by force, allurement or fraud.
