The Karnataka government, in its Cabinet meeting on 15 June, decided to scrap changes made by the BJP regime to the anti-conversion law.
Published Jul 01, 2023 | 4:33 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 01, 2023 | 4:33 PM
Siddaramaiah-led government to repeal changes to the anti-conversion law. (Siddaramaiah/ Twitter)
Heads of various mutts in Dakshina Kannada district have strongly opposed the decision of the Karnataka government to repeal the anti-conversion law and the cow slaughter prevention Act.
The meeting of the seers condemned the recent statements by some ministers on the move to withdraw the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act and amend the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, Gurudevananda Swami of Odiyuru Mutt told reporters in Mangaluru on Friday, 30 June.
The seers called upon Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar not to go ahead with any move to change the Acts, as it will lead to social unrest in Dakshina Kannada and other districts of Karnataka.
Terming the move as “anti-Hindu”, Gurudevananda Swami said that the government should not hurt the sentiments of Hindus. He also threatened that the seers will go on a hunger strike if the government proceeded with the move.
The seers will submit a memorandum to the governor, chief minister, and deputy chief minister urging them not to repeal the laws.
Vajradehi Mutt chief Rajashekarananda Swami said they will also take a legal path if the anti-conversion law is repealed or changes are made to the cow slaughter Act.
He also asked the police not to victimise Hindu activists by raking up old cases of moral policing, using the new anti-communal wing of the force.
The heads of 10 mutts in Dakshina Kannada district took part in the meeting. The state government had, in June, said that it will introduce a Bill to repeal the anti-conversion law in the legislature session, which starts on 3 July.
On 24 May, Priyank Kharge, son of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, said that all policy matters of the previous government would be relooked.
“The BJP government had decided to observe certain birth anniversaries of prominent figures and left out others,” he said, adding that revisions made in textbooks, anti-cow slaughter, and anti-conversion Bills, too, would be reviewed.
Kharge said that the move to withdraw the legislation was to make the state once again the number one priority.
Legislation such as the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, popularly known as the anti-conversion law, the ban on hijab, the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964, and the revision of textbooks were all enforced during Basavaraj Bommai’s tenure.
The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government, in its Cabinet meeting on 15 June, decided to scrap changes made by the BJP regime to the state’s anti-conversion law.
This Bill was passed in the Karnataka Legislative Council in September 2022 and also got the consent of Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot.
Congress leaders called it “unconstitutional” and walked out of the House. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil told reporters, “The Cabinet discussed the anti-conversion Bill. We have approved the Bill to repeal the changes brought in by them (the BJP government) in 2022. It will be tabled during the session that starts on 3 July.”
The anti-conversion Bill was first tabled in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in December 2021.
While the BJP ensured the Bill’s passage in the Assembly amid protests by Congress and the JD(S), the Bill did not go through in the Upper House.
In May last year, the Karnataka Cabinet converted the Bill into an ordinance to bring a law penalising alleged religious conversions.
The Bill was tabled in the Legislative Council and passed with minor amendments on 15 September 2022.
Among the contentious points introduced in the law was that interfaith marriages involving religious conversions would be null and void.
Free education, the promise of marriage, and jobs would be deemed allurement for religious conversion.
It also proposed imprisonment from three to five years with a penalty of ₹25,000, while for violation of provisions with respect to minors, women, and SC/ST members, the offenders would face imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of not less than ₹50,000.
(With PTI inputs)
