Mumbai, March 17 (NationPress) Members of the ruling MahaYuti coalition, particularly from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), raised serious concerns on Tuesday regarding the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, during a session of the State Legislative Council.

NCP MLC Idris Naikwadi articulated strong reservations about the Bill, asserting, "If the Freedom of Religion Act is misused to target individuals, we will need to reconsider our stance." His remarks marked a notable critique from within the ruling alliance.

Introduced by Minister of State for Home, Pankaj Bhoyar, the Bill was passed in the Maharashtra Assembly the previous night before being presented to the Legislative Council for further approval.

Naikwadi voiced his skepticism over the practical application of this legislation, stating, "Reflecting on past experiences with similar laws raises doubts about whether this is an effort to single out a specific community."

He emphasized, "While forced conversion is fundamentally wrong, existing laws adequately address this issue. However, the introduction of this new law raises concerns about potential misuse for harassment. If religious freedom is a matter of choice, who has the authority to take it away?"

He further lamented, "In this assembly, we often face derogatory references to historical figures like Aurangzeb. Are we, in any way, related to him? When our nation celebrates victories in cricket, do we not share that joy as Indians? Yet, some choose to celebrate by bursting firecrackers outside our homes, despite our own celebrations. If you wish to share that joy, invite me to join in the festivities with gulal!"

Naikwadi demanded that the Bill be presented transparently and urged the removal of the 60-day notice requirement for conversions.

Another NCP MLC, Amol Mitkari, expressed that it would be absurd to support the Bill merely due to political affiliations.

He voiced hope that the legislation would respect individuals' religious freedoms, stating, "Jagadguru Sant Tukaram taught us to harbor no ill will toward anyone. Our identity unites us as Indians. Thus, this Bill should be framed to ensure no religious community feels threatened."

Interestingly, the NCP's top leaders have not publicly commented on the Bill, whether in favor or against.

Meanwhile, Jitendra Awhad, an opposition NCP-SP legislator, offered a balanced perspective in the Legislative Assembly. He opposed forced conversions but raised concerns that the Bill could serve as a vehicle for asserting the dominance of a particular caste or ideology under the guise of promoting religious freedom.