PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday ruled out an anti-conversion law in Bihar and said his government always remains alert towards sensitive issues and members of different religious communities live in harmony with each other in the state.
Nitish was replying to media queries whether his government would consider bringing an anti-conversion law in the wake of sporadic incidents of religious conversion in the country. “The state government always remains alert over sensitive issues. All people, be they from any religious group, live in harmony with each other and have no problem. There is no conversion-related dispute in the state. Hence, such a move is not required in Bihar,” he stressed.
The CM also pointed out that no major incident of communal violence occurred in Bihar during the last several years. The state government maintains special vigil even in minor communal incidents. “We are fully alert over such issues,” Nitish said after launching the Bihar Textile and Leather Policy at an event organized on Wednesday.
Nitish’s statement assumes significance and could also be seen as a strong message to his ally BJP. Some of the BJP hard-liners, such as Union minister Giriraj Singh, stress on the need for an anti-conversion law.
