India, Aug. 31 -- It has been clear for some years now that anti-conversion laws were not created to stop conversions to Christianity by force and fraud, two oxymoronic terms in a Hindu-majority nation where political, economic and administrative power vests overwhelmingly in the majority community itself.

Their real purpose has always been to radicalise the people and mould them into a permanent vote bank for majoritarian, self-styled nationalist parties, and most of all, their fanatical leaders with dictatorial ambitions and a pedigree of hate and lame.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, now being operationalised, is the latest addition to this list, and among the worst.

The Act received presidential assent on July 31, 20...