Chhattisgarh recently became the latest Indian state to pass a law controlling religious conversions. Several other Indian states have enacted similar laws in the recent past, banning religious conversions by 'force or fraud', and requiring individuals who change their religion to inform local authorities beforehand.

Speaking in support of the law, Chhattisgarh Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam, said religious conversions in poor and tribal areas often took place by fraudulent means, and hence such a law is required.

While most Hindu groups welcomed the legislation, it has come under fire from Christian groups in India, who claim that the law targets their freedom to operate. Several British MPs also criticised the legislation, saying that it oppresses the rights of religious minorities. Andy Reed, MP for Loughborough and member of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, met with the Indian High Commissioner to discuss his concerns and handed in a letter that was signed by a total of 16 British MPs.

Most Hindus dislike the idea of people trying to convert others to their own religion. It is seen as devaluing religion, turning it into a power struggle that has nothing to do with true spirituality. Up until quite recently, Hindus never tried to convert others. That is not to say that Hinduism was totally closed entry, but there was never a systematic attempt to draw people from other religions into Hinduism.

In the Hindu context, freedom of religion means that people are left free to explore their religious life without being challenged to change his or her religion. Such exploration need not be confined to any single religion, but should be free from systematic attempts to proselytise. Most Hindus say that they have no problem if an individual makes a personal decision to follow another religion. But it is constant and systematic attempts to convert large numbers of Hindus that causes resentment.

In recent decades, the gradual decline in the percentage Hindu population in India has been a matter of concern to many Hindu groups, who have thus lobbied for tougher control of 'conversion activities'. It has even spurred certain Hindu groups to launch 're-conversion programmes' to bring lost Hindus back into the fold. Such programmes have met with occasional success.

Critics have pointed out that Hindus still comprise the overwhelming majority of India's population, and therefore it is mindless paranoia to believe that there is any real risk to the survival of Hinduism. On the other hand, it must be conceded that if other religions routinely try and spread their religion, Hindu groups cannot be blamed for trying to counter them.