BJP's election success might anneal anti-conversion laws

As elections draw close, the triumph of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might put Christians in jeopardy. There have been speculations that the victory of the opposition nationalist party will bring the legislation against mass conversions.

BJP President Rajnath Singh told the Financial Times, "The missionaries are free to work in any part of the country, but mass conversion by force or handouts is not acceptable."

Mr Singh, alongside L.K Advani is one of party's most senior leader, and a staunch Hindu.

The BJP has been very keenly vying for legislation from the Central government, banning conversions. Some of the states ruled by its party have already passed the anti-conversion laws, which several times have been misused to suit the Hindu aggression over Christian missionaries.

Many have been falsely implicated on these charges, most of them in states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. India now has seven states with legislation banning unregistered or unethical religious conversions.

Orissa that witnessed one of India's largest anti-Christian violence is ruled by a coalition of the Biju Janata Dal and the BJP. The violence since August 23 following the assassination of a Hindu leader, led to the murder of over 60 people and the fleeing of at least 50,000 to forests.