Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI2911
2007-06-22 11:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
PATIL PITCHES ONE TO THE PRESIDENT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002911
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: PATIL PITCHES ONE TO THE PRESIDENT
REF: NEW DELHI 2865
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 002911
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: PATIL PITCHES ONE TO THE PRESIDENT
REF: NEW DELHI 2865
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) On June 20, her last day as Governor of Rajasthan, UPA
Presidential hopeful Prathiba Patil forwarded the state's
controversial anti-conversion bill to President Adbul Kalam
for legal review and guidance on its constitutional merits.
Governors have the option to send state legislation to the
President for legal review if they believe it would not pass
a constitutional test. The bill, which passed the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) led Rajasthan State Assembly on May 7,
2006 has lived a tumultuous existence in Rajasthan.
Initially, Patil refused to sign the bill into law and sent
it back to the Assembly with objections and suggestions for
amendments. The legislators, however, refused to change the
bill and returned it to her in mid-May 2007. Until today,
Patil sat on the bill, remarking that it could "have an
adverse impact on the secular credentials of the nation and
state."
Laws Restricting Religious Conversions
--------------
2. (U) Five states have already passed laws restricting
religious conversions: Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh. In Rajasthan,
legislation has been pending since 2005. The Rajasthan bill
would punish those who carry our conversion through coercion
of financial inducement with up to five years in prison and a
fine of $1250 (Rs. 50,000). The bill also bans religious
organizations engaged in forced conversion.
Comment: Strengthening Her Secular Credentials
--------------
3. (C) During Patil's tenure as Rajasthan's Governor, she
vocally expressed her concern with the legislation
criminalizing conversions, stipulating that such a bill
violated secularism as guaranteed under the Indian
Constitution. Not knowing who will occupy the Governor's
office after her, Patil seems to have pitched the legislation
to the President's office to buy more time. There is little
chance that Kalam's legal team will complete its review of
the bill before the end of his term, so Patil may have punted
the bill from her desk as Governor to her desk as President.
If elected as the new President, Patil could sit on the bill
for the duration of her term (five years) and Rajasthan would
have little option but to acquiesce. Political pundits
speculated that Patil made this move to fend off criticisms
lobbed at her for alleged "communal" comments she made
regarding the origins of purdah in India (reftel).
Regardless of her motivation, this action will help solidify
her base among secularist electoral voters, while
neutralizing the negative impact of her comments regarding
Muslim women and purdah. End Comment.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR IN
SUBJECT: PATIL PITCHES ONE TO THE PRESIDENT
REF: NEW DELHI 2865
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) On June 20, her last day as Governor of Rajasthan, UPA
Presidential hopeful Prathiba Patil forwarded the state's
controversial anti-conversion bill to President Adbul Kalam
for legal review and guidance on its constitutional merits.
Governors have the option to send state legislation to the
President for legal review if they believe it would not pass
a constitutional test. The bill, which passed the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) led Rajasthan State Assembly on May 7,
2006 has lived a tumultuous existence in Rajasthan.
Initially, Patil refused to sign the bill into law and sent
it back to the Assembly with objections and suggestions for
amendments. The legislators, however, refused to change the
bill and returned it to her in mid-May 2007. Until today,
Patil sat on the bill, remarking that it could "have an
adverse impact on the secular credentials of the nation and
state."
Laws Restricting Religious Conversions
--------------
2. (U) Five states have already passed laws restricting
religious conversions: Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh. In Rajasthan,
legislation has been pending since 2005. The Rajasthan bill
would punish those who carry our conversion through coercion
of financial inducement with up to five years in prison and a
fine of $1250 (Rs. 50,000). The bill also bans religious
organizations engaged in forced conversion.
Comment: Strengthening Her Secular Credentials
--------------
3. (C) During Patil's tenure as Rajasthan's Governor, she
vocally expressed her concern with the legislation
criminalizing conversions, stipulating that such a bill
violated secularism as guaranteed under the Indian
Constitution. Not knowing who will occupy the Governor's
office after her, Patil seems to have pitched the legislation
to the President's office to buy more time. There is little
chance that Kalam's legal team will complete its review of
the bill before the end of his term, so Patil may have punted
the bill from her desk as Governor to her desk as President.
If elected as the new President, Patil could sit on the bill
for the duration of her term (five years) and Rajasthan would
have little option but to acquiesce. Political pundits
speculated that Patil made this move to fend off criticisms
lobbed at her for alleged "communal" comments she made
regarding the origins of purdah in India (reftel).
Regardless of her motivation, this action will help solidify
her base among secularist electoral voters, while
neutralizing the negative impact of her comments regarding
Muslim women and purdah. End Comment.
MULFORD