Mumbai, March 17 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill-2026 has been approved following a contentious debate late Monday night in the state Legislative Assembly. The ruling Mahayuti coalition staunchly advocated for the Bill, asserting its importance in combating illegal and coerced conversions. Meanwhile, divisions appeared within the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition as the Shiv Sena(UBT) expressed its backing, while other partners, such as Congress, NCP(SP), and the Samajwadi Party, voiced their opposition.

The proposed legislation will be forwarded to the Legislative Council for further consideration. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized that the Bill “does not target any particular religion.” He reiterated that its primary aim is to avert conversions executed through coercion, deceit, or allurements.

During his address in the Assembly, CM Fadnavis clarified the government’s position. The Bill, known as the 'Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026', was introduced on Friday by Minister of State for Home (Rural), Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, to address conversions occurring via baiting, deception, or force.

CM Fadnavis highlighted that several states, including Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, and Rajasthan, already enforce anti-conversion laws. Following this pattern, Maharashtra aims to enact a similar statute.

He noted that Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom of religion—the right to profess, practice, and promote one’s faith. However, converting individuals through fraud, pressure, force, or temptation is fundamentally wrong, necessitating this law to mitigate such occurrences. “Individuals wishing to convert voluntarily must adhere to a legal process. They must notify authorized officials of the conversion. Competent authorities will ensure the conversion is indeed voluntary before granting approval,” he stated.

In support of the Bill, Bhaskar Jadhav from the Shiv Sena(UBT) asserted that it seeks to uphold the right to religious freedom and prevent illegal conversions. It is all-encompassing and does not discriminate against any religion, despite rumors to the contrary. The goal is to eliminate unethical practices and the misuse of religion that adversely affect individuals or communities.

Jadhav refuted media claims that the Bill targets a specific religion, asserting that this is a misconception. The legislation applies equally across all religions, aiming to prevent coercive or inducive practices in religious conversions.

During the debate, NCP(SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad ignited significant controversy by referencing historical events related to the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill-2026. An uproar ensued when he made a particular mention concerning the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Speaker Rahul Narwekar instructed Awhad to apologize, which he subsequently did.