The Karnataka government is all set to introduce an anti-conversion bill – the Karnataka Right to Religious Freedom Bill, 2021 – in the Legislature. The cabinet had approved the draft bill on December 20.
The bill envisages stringent provisions for forced or forced conversions.
It prohibits conversion from one religion to another by “misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, inducement or marriage”.
It said that any aggrieved person, parent, brother, sister or any other person related by blood, marriage or adoption may lodge an FIR against such act.
It has penal provisions stating that the term of imprisonment shall not be less than 3 years and may extend to 10 years, and the fine may range from ₹25,000 to ₹10 lakh.
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