J Nagarathna: there is difference between forceful conversion and propagating religion.
SG: yes, if you are converting someone based on coercion or fraud, there is no conversion
SG: discussing constituent assembly debates on conversion
SG: there were discussions that conversion should be permitted as fundamental right and so the word propagate should be added
SG: the suggestion of Rajkumari and Mehta led to inclusion of Article 25(2)(b)
SG: earlier the word religious worship was used but Rajkumari objected. She said that some reforms might get nullified.
SG:on April 3, communal riots were taking place and framers were concerned that one religion based on numerical strength would claim strenght and therefore it added equally entitled- nothing to do with gender. Both man and women are equally entitled to rights which is taken care in Article 14.
J Nagarathna: no religion is superior than the other
SG: yes, nothing to do with gender
SG: first conjoint draft of sub committee on fundamental rights- the word practice and profess was there, propagate was not there- 'all persons are equally entitled' this was introduced for the first time.
Sabrimala reads equally entitled includes gender equality but my submission would be gender equality is taken care of in Articles 14 and 15
SG: On 27 March, 1947, sub committee accepted Munshi's formulation of anti-conversion. March 31, Rajkumari for herself and Mehta wrote to Sir BN Rao emphasing that many oppressive practices such as child marriage is justified in name of religion. she suggested that we should not have religion but some other word.
SG: recent judgments have concept of patriarchal society etc but it was never there. We are only society that worship ladies. Let us not introduce those concepts of patriarchy and general stereotypes.
J Nagarathna: we call them founding mothers of the Constitution
SG: Hansa Mehta and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur had pointed out if you say right of religion, some religion forbid- they said you will be nullifying all social reforms.
SG: before the constituent assembly debates, there were committees. First draft by Kanhaiya Lal Munshi