Raipur, March 20 -- The Chhattisgarh assembly on Thursday passed a bill aimed at preventing religious conversions carried out through force, inducement, fraud or misrepresentation, with stringent provisions including life imprisonment in cases of "mass conversion". The Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantraya Vidheyak 2026 (Freedom of Religion Bill 2026), tabled in the House by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, was passed following five hours of discussion amid a boycott by Congress legislators after their demand to refer the bill to a Select Committee for consultation before its introduction was rejected by the chair. Terming the passage of the bill as a historic moment, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday said it will put an end to religious conversions carried out through inducement, pressure and deceit. Speaking to reporters after the bill was passed, Sai said, "On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, may the blessings of Mata Rani forever remain upon Chhattisgarh. The new law will curb illegal and unethical conversion practices that exploit poverty, illiteracy and lack of awareness." Such activities had long disrupted social harmony and balance in the state, he added. During the discussion on the bill, Sharma, who also holds Home portfolio, cited alleged religious conversion incidents in Narayanpur and Kanker districts in Bastar, and said the Bill was introduced keeping in view the current scenario. He added that the government does not intend to restrict voluntary conversions. "Any person can choose to convert by their own will. How can we stop that? The issue is whether conversions are taking place through inducement, force, or misrepresentation," he said. The Bill seeks to replace Chhattisgarh Dharm Swatantraya Adhiniyam (Freedom of Religion Act) 1968 adopted from Madhya Pradesh when the state was carved out in 2000. Referring to the 1968 law, Sharma said it was enacted during Congress rule (in erstwhile Madhya Pradesh). "This (new bill) is an extension and strengthening of the same law. Nearly 60 years have passed and circumstances have changed. It is surprising that the opposition is walking out on a law that they themselves enacted," he said while accusing the Congress of ignoring the potential impact of religious conversions on the state's culture. All offences will be cognisable and non-bailable. The Bill, however, states that reconversion to one's ancestral religion will not be treated as conversion under the law....