There was an uproar in the Karnataka Legislative Council when the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, also known as the Anti-Conversion Bill, was introduced. With this bill, the BJP-led Karnataka government has re-ignited the debate on conversions and put the opposition into war mode.
After being put on hold several times over the years, the bill was passed in the Karnataka assembly last December but was not tabled in the council due to lack of majority. Given that the BJP has a majority in the Upper House, the bill was introduced despite the uproar raised by the opposition parties.
Defending its move to pass the controversial bill, the ruling BJP called it an attempt to “protect our religion and prevent forced conversions”. The opposition Congress and JD(S) have condemned the move and called it a “politically motivated bill” that is being forced upon the people to further the BJP’s Hindutva agenda.
Former Congress chief minister and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said the Congress would repeal the anti-conversion bill within a week of coming to power or within the first session of the state legislature after coming to power. However, the party found itself in an embarrassing situation when the BJP replaced Siddaramaiah in 2016 with the then Karnataka Law Commission chairman VS. It was signed by Siddaramaiah, who was then the Chief Minister.
As Karnataka prepares itself for the upcoming elections in 2023, the Congress is also planning to make this part of its election campaign as it campaigns across the state to highlight the “communal driven agenda” of the BJP. has been
The Congress party calls this a complete violation of Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution and under the guise of claiming to prevent forced conversions, “they are promoting vigilance”.
Congress MLA and spokesperson Priyank Kharge sought details from the BJP government on claims that forced conversions took place on a large scale. Seeking data on such cases, he described the move as BJP’s way of promoting vigilance.
“There are a lot of flaws in the bill. The bill states that 40 days in advance notice will have to be given to the deputy commissioner about whom to marry and their family information. Why should the local DC know who I am interested in marrying and why should people see on notice boards who I am planning to marry? It is an individual’s personal choice and our Constitution gives us that freedom,” Kharge told News18. “If a person is marrying another religion and he likes that religion and wants to convert, then who are we to stop them? This bill is a farce and only a way to please one community.”
Shivajinagar MLA and Congress leader Rizwan Arshad called it a “political bill” targeting the Christian community and their religious institutions and their office bearers. Arshad believes that the bill gives strength to the “goons” of the Sangh Parivar who have been accused of attacking churches in the state.
“This bill is designed to target the Christian community and create a polarized society and divert the attention of the people from the real issues, while keeping the real problems like corruption, unemployment, inflation, failing infrastructure, and abuse of power under the carpet. This bill serves two purposes: one is that the Sangh Parivar has found its way, and the other is that the BJP has managed to divert attention,” the Congress MLA said.
BJP national general secretary CT Ravi asked the opposition parties whether they were in favor of forced conversion. “We are saying that people should not be forcibly converted. If this is being done then it will be considered a crime. We are trying to curb this through the bill. Are those opposing the bill supporting forced conversions? If they support it, they are not only anti-Hindu but also anti-national and anti-Gandhi,” he told News18. “This bill does not target any community or religion. But if anyone is found to be forcibly converting, he will be targeted 100%. Why should those groups be worried if they are not involved in conversion?
The BJP was also seeking the support of former ally JDS for smooth passage of the bill, but without success.
Speaking to News18, Hassan MP and JDS leader Prajwal Revanna called it a move by the BJP to further the party’s agenda and ideology.
We are against this bill. The constitution has given every person the right to practice the religion of his choice. We cannot force anyone to convert. And if someone is being forced to convert to other religion against their will then there are existing laws in our country to book such people. It is a personal choice and if a person wants to change his religion, we cannot stop him,” said Prajwal Revanna.
Karnataka Law Minister JC Madhuswamy said the BJP has brought the bill to “protect Hinduism and prevent forced conversions”.
“We have not restricted anyone’s freedom and this bill is only to ensure that no one is forcibly converted,” he said on the floor of the assembly.
Prajwal Revanna had a counter question for the Law Minister.
“I would like to ask Shri Madhuswami, what is the need to protect Hinduism? I am a Hindu and I am proud of it. If people are converting from Hinduism to another religion on their own, then something is definitely going wrong. If someone who is following Hinduism suddenly becomes uncomfortable and plans to convert to another religion, why don’t you find out what is wrong with following Hinduism? Instead of bringing such a controversial bill and creating disharmony in the country and the state, correct the wrong,” Revanna said.
Karnataka is not the first state India Who has brought such a bill? Earlier this year, Himachal Pradesh passed a tough law to prevent mass conversions just ahead of elections. States such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh have similar laws.
So what is the controversial bill? The Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, guarantees the right to religious freedom and prohibits forced conversions from one religion to another using deception, coercion, undue influence, coercion, inducement, or any other fraudulent means . According to this bill, any act of forced conversion shall be punishable under the law with a jail term of up to ten years. The offense is non-bailable.
“No person, either directly or otherwise, attempts to convert any other person from one religion to another by use or practice of force, undue influence, coercion, inducement or in any fraudulent manner or by any other means or by promise of marriage.” shall not, nor shall any person incite or conspire for such conversion,” the anti-conversion bill says.
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