CPI(ML) Statement re SC Comments on Conversion (Staines massacre case)

Supreme Court Comments on Conversion Are Unconstitutional

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, in upholding a high court verdict regarding the gruesome murder of Graham Staines and his two small sons, has chosen to pass gratuitous and ideological comments against religious conversion. The Court has upheld the high court’s reasoning that though Graham Staines and his two minor sons were burnt to death while sleeping inside a station wagon at Manoharpur, “the intention was to teach a lesson to Graham Staines about his religious activities, namely, converting poor tribals to Christianity.” The Court has in effect delegitimized the constitutionally guaranteed right to propagate one’s religion by declaring that “It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone's belief by way of ‘use of force,' provocation, conversion, incitement or upon a flawed premise that one religion is better than the other.”

In punishing the act of murder of Staines, the SC has effectively justified and upheld the purported motive of the murder. It is disturbing and dangerous that the apex court should appear to reinforce the prejudices against conversion propagated by communal outfits and legitimise the notion that Christian missionaries need to be ‘taught a lesson.’ In Odisha and other parts of the country, the SC’s observations are bound to embolden the Sangh Parivar outfits which are justifying large scale organised violence against the Christian minorities as a ‘reaction’ to the ‘provocation’ of conversion.

(Prabhat Kumar)

For Central Committee
CPI(ML)