SECUNDERABAD, ANDHRA PRADESH, India, March 25, 2003 — Dr. Joseph D'souza, President of the All India Christian Council has asked Christians to pray against and protest the bill, which he described as being against the India constitution.
Map: Canadian Bible Society
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In an urgent AICC communiqué, D'souza said, "Right behind the attempt to take the census of Christians in Gujarat, the Government of Gujarat has now tabled the anti-conversion bill. "
The bill is expected to pass easily in the Gujarat assembly, as the BJP government has a majority.
The Gujarat bill called the Freedom of Religion bill goes further than the one introduced in Tamil Nadu, in that it requires a person to get the permission of a district magistrate before they can change their faith.
The mass exodus of the Dalits in the last couple of years to other faiths is the main reason for this new law. The Dalits are a socially and economically disadvantaged caste in India. Worldwide it is estimated they number over 250 million people.
D'souza said that the All India Christian Council is launching a major appeal in the High Court of Gujarat against this bill.
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