Maharashtra Assembly passes anti-conversion Bill as Shiv Sena (UBT) backs govt, opposition objects

In a politically charged development that exposed rare cracks within Maharashtra’s opposition bloc, the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, was passed in the state Assembly on March 16, with support from the ruling alliance and an unexpected endorsement from Shiv Sena (UBT).

The legislation, introduced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, received backing from the Mahayuti government and Shiv Sena (UBT), even as its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners — Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) — opposed it alongside the Samajwadi Party and CPI(M). The Bill is expected to be tabled in the Legislative Council on March 17.

Sena (UBT) breaks ranks

The support from Shiv Sena (UBT) marked a significant departure from opposition unity. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray publicly endorsed the Bill, stating that while freedom of religion must be upheld, coercive or deceptive conversions should be opposed.

“If anyone is converting by force or exploiting someone’s vulnerability through false inducements, we are against it. We fully support this Bill,” Thackeray said.

Inside the House, Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav backed the legislation, though he suggested amendments to provisions related to prior notice for conversion.

Govt defends ‘constitutional’ intent

Fadnavis defended the Bill as a necessary legal safeguard against conversions carried out through coercion, inducement, fraud or misrepresentation, asserting that it targets no specific religion.

“This Bill applies to all religions and is aimed solely at preventing unlawful conversions,” he said, adding that similar laws are already operational in at least 12 states, including Odisha, Karnataka and Haryana.

The Chief Minister argued that existing laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita lack specific provisions to address religious conversions, forcing authorities to rely on broader charges like fraud. The new legislation, he said, would bring clarity and help prevent law and order issues, particularly in cases linked to interfaith marriages.

The Bill defines illegal conversions comprehensively and proposes penalties for individuals or organizations facilitating such acts. It also empowers police to take suo motu action in suspected cases.

Opposition raises red flags

Opposition parties mounted a strong critique, calling the Bill unconstitutional and alleging it could infringe upon personal liberty and privacy while targeting minority communities.

NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad argued that the legislation’s title was misleading. “This is not about freedom of religion; it is about controlling religion,” he said.

Congress MLA Amin Patel and Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi echoed concerns over constitutionality, particularly provisions mandating a 60-day prior notice for conversion.

Congress legislator Aslam Shaikh questioned the safety implications of such a requirement. “Why should an individual publicly declare their intent to convert? Who will guarantee their protection?” he asked, also objecting to the burden of proof being placed on the accused.

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh termed the Bill “regressive” and accused the government of pushing a one-sided narrative without adequate data. He pointed out discrepancies between claims of widespread “love jihad” cases and official records, demanding that the government present evidence and a pending committee report on religious conversions.

Call for further scrutiny rejected

Opposition members demanded that the Bill be referred to a joint select committee for detailed scrutiny and public consultation — a request the government did not accept.

Reiterating his stand, Fadnavis said the legislation aligns with Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion, and is designed to strengthen administrative capacity to address unlawful conversions.

“I urge the House not to be misled by rumors. This Bill is fully constitutional in both letter and spirit,” he said.

With the Assembly’s approval secured, the Bill now heads to the Legislative Council, where another round of political contestation is expected.