The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to repeal the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP Government. The Government plans to introduce a Bill for this purpose during the upcoming legislature session, scheduled to commence on July 3.
HK Patil, the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, informed reporters after the Cabinet meeting, “The Cabinet discussed the anti-conversion Bill. We have approved the Bill to repeal the changes that were brought in by them (the BJP Government) in 2022. It will be tabled during the session starting from July 3.”
The BJP reacted sharply to the Congress Government’s decision and dubbed the M Mallikarjun Kharge-led outfit as “new Muslim League”. Is this “Mohabbat Ki Dukaan” @RahulGandhi ?” asked senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) on Twitter.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s “anti-Hindu agenda” is exposed, he said.
Do you want Hindus to be wiped out? Conversion mafia has influenced Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet to withdraw “Anti-Conversion Law” which was introduced by BJP, he added.
BJP national general secretary CT Ravi said the “conversion mafia” in Karnataka “ensures that the Anti-Hindu CONgress repeals the anti-conversion law brought in by the @BJP4Karnataka government.” “CONgress is the new Muslim League and it will go to any extent to hurt Hindus”, Ravi alleged.
The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, commonly known as the anti-conversion law, was enacted in 2022 despite Opposition from the Congress party.
The act aimed to safeguard the right to freedom of religion and prohibit unlawful conversions through means such as misrepresentation, force, coercion, allurement, or fraudulent methods.
It prescribed imprisonment ranging from three to five years and a fine of `25,000 for violations. In cases involving minors, women, and individuals from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), the offenders could face imprisonment for three to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000.
The law also provided for compensation of up to `5 lakh to individuals who were coerced into converting. Additionally, mass conversions could result in a jail term of three to ten years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. It declared marriages solely intended for unlawful conversions or vice versa, where one spouse converts to another religion before or after marriage, null and void. Family courts or courts with jurisdiction over such cases were responsible for adjudicating petitions filed by either party involved.