New Delhi, October 09(HS) — The Nirmohi Aani Akharas, the Akhara Parishad, and the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti jointly organized a press conference in the national capital today to express unified support for the Freedom of Religion Acts enacted by various states across Bharat. The Sant Samaj not only reiterated its full solidarity with these laws but also announced a nationwide awareness campaign to strengthen public understanding of the issue.

Addressing the media, Ven. Shri Mahant Rajendra Das Ji Maharaj, President of the Nirmohi Aani Akhara and General Secretary of the Akhara Parishad, along with Ven. Swami Shri Jitendranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, emphasized that Bharat’s greatness lies in its diversity, where numerous Dharmic traditions, philosophies, and sects have flourished for millennia. They cautioned, however, that this very diversity is now under threat due to illegal religious conversions.

The saints clarified that while Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom to practice and propagate religion, this right is subject to public order, morality, and health. They reiterated that the constitutional right to “propagate” religion does not equate to a right to “convert” others — a distinction affirmed repeatedly by the Indian judiciary.

After Independence, several saints and national leaders had urged for a central law to prevent illegal religious conversions. However, since the Constituent Assembly decided that such matters fall under state jurisdiction, multiple states — including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan — have enacted Freedom of Religion Acts aimed at preventing conversions through force, fraud, or allurement.

The speakers raised concerns over the Supreme Court’s decision to club multiple petitions challenging these state laws for joint hearing, stating that each state’s context and legislation are distinct. They argued that, just as the Supreme Court earlier ruled in the temple management case of Ven. Swami Dayanand Saraswati Ji that such matters fall within the domain of state governments, the same principle should apply here. They expressed apprehension that hearing all cases together could undermine state-specific contexts and potentially create confusion.

The saints also alleged that international forces and organizations supporting religious conversions are attempting to influence judicial and political narratives in India. “Our intention is not to cast aspersions on the judiciary but to safeguard its dignity and ensure that Bharat’s spiritual integrity remains protected,” they stated.

Calling for stricter enforcement and expansion of existing anti-conversion laws, the Sant Samaj urged the judiciary to direct states that have not yet enacted such laws to do so promptly. They stressed that preventing illegal conversions is crucial for national security, social harmony, and the protection of genuine religious freedom.

Dr. Surendra Jain, Central Joint General Secretary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Ven. Shri Mahant Gauri Shankar Das Ji Maharaj, spokesperson of the Akhara Parishad, were also present at the press conference.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar