India, Dec. 4 -- The Gujarat government has approached the Supreme Court to lift the stay operating against its law banning forced conversions in the state.

In a response filed by the Gujarat government to a PIL seeking a ban on forced religious conversions filed by Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, the Gujarat government backed the need for having a law to stop 'forced conversion' citing the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003. The Act prevents freedom of religion by prohibiting conversion from one religion to another by use of force or allurement or by fraudulent means.

The Gujarat government in its affidavit has also pointed out that it seeks the lifting of 'Section 5' of its 2003 Act which provides ...