Discussion on Karnataka's Anti-Conversion Bill Postponed Amid Oppn Protests

Meanwhile, Congress' DK Shivakumar tore the anti-conversion bill on the floor of the house.

File photo of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

(Photo: PTI)

Known as the state's 'anti-conversion' bill, the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 was tabled by state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, 21 December.

Amid ruckus and with the Opposition threatening a walkout over the bill, the Assembly speaker announced that he has allowed the government to introduce anti-conversion bill as per the procedure, and it would be taken up for discussion on Wednesday. Congress' DK Shivakumar also tore the anti-conversion bill on the floor of the house.

The bill, which was granted the state Cabinet's approval on Monday, 20 December, seeks to prohibit conversion from one religion to another by means that it categorises as fraudulent.

The Congress party has decided to oppose the bill in the Assembly. State Congress chief DK Shivakumar was quoted by ANI as saying:

"Congress party will oppose it outright (in the Assembly). It's against the Constitution and seeks to destroy harmony and create communal tension. It'll lead to a dip in investment in Karnataka."

Karnataka Congres president DK Shivakumar

"I'll tear the Bill, it's against the Constitution. We wanted to stop it before its introduction. They've to go by the majority, but the Speaker joined hands with the govt. We'll oppose it tooth & nail," he later said, as per ANI.

"There is full opportunity for debate in the Assembly. They (Opposition) were not present in the House when the Bill was presented in the House. This is not the government's fault," Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

What Does the Bill Propose?

The bill prohibits conversion from one religion to another religion by “misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, allurement or marriage.”

It adds that any aggrieved person, parents, brother, sister or any other person related by blood, marriage or adoption can file a First Information Report (FIR) against such an act.

Under the act, a person wilfully converting to another faith will be required to inform the district commissioner (DC) of the conversion two months in advance, following which the DC is liable to conduct an inquiry into the purpose behind the decision.

For violators, the bill seeks to impose stringent punishment, with different sentences for persons belonging to the general category and those involved in converting persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Schedule Tribe categories.

While someone involved in converting a general category person will face a jail term of three-five years, and a fine of Rs 25,000, a violator involved in the conversion of a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) category will be penalised with a jail term of 3-10 years, and a fine of Rs 50,000. The latter punishment will also hold in the case of conversion of women and minors.

A copy of the the draft bill notes:

“No person shall convert or attempt to convert either directly or otherwise any other person from one religion to another by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage, nor shall any person abet or conspire for conversions."

‘This Is a Draconian Law’: Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah

After the bill was tabled, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, said, "How can you introduce the bill? We oppose the introduction of the bill in itself. It is a violation of our Constitutional Rights. This is a draconian law."

Opposing the bill, Siddaramaiah added, "This government does not follow the Constitution. This government is extra-constitutional."

Meanwhile, calling opposition over the bill "anti-national," KS Eshwarappa, the rural development minister, said that the Opposition was "trying to appease the Muslims and Christians, their opposition is anti-national."

Later, Bengaluru Archbishop Peter Machado said, "With this Bill, they are hurting us a lot. They are questioning our trust, questioning our good services which we are doing. Ever since this Bill has been announced the level of attacks has also increased."