K'taka govt introduced anti-conversion bill in assembly

Bengaluru, December 21: After the state cabinet's nod, the Karnataka government has now tabled the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill 2021, more commonly known as the anti-conversion bill in the Legislative Assembly.

 

 

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra tables the anti-conversion bill in the State Legislative Assembly.  Soon after, the Congress walked out of the Assembly in opposition. .Moreover, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar tore a copy of the anti-conversion Bill. 

 

 

 

According to reports, it forbids conversion from one religion to another by 'misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue, influence, coercion, allurement or marriage.' Yesterday, the Basavaraj Bommai-led cabinet cleared the anti-conversion bill at a meeting held in Belagavi.

 

 

Additionally, it also states that any aggrieved person, including parents, brothers, sisters, or any other relative through blood, marriage or adoption may file a first information report against the conversion. If an act is found to be in violation of the bill's provisions, the violator may attract a prison term of no less than 3 years and up to 10 years, and financial penalties between Rs 25,000 and Rs 10 lakh.

 

The bill also mandates an individual looking to change faith to apply to the district magistrate and deputy commissioner, at least, two months in advance. These officers will assess the application and deem whether it is valid.

 

The bill is, reportedly, modelled off a similar law enacted in Uttar Pradesh last year. The UP law is currently being challenged in court. Gujarat has also passed a law on religious conversions, however, some of its provisions have, reportedly, been stayed by the state's High Court.

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