"Scrap anti-conversion law", Archbishop Machado asks Karnataka govt to fulfill its promise
Bishop Machado said the government"s reported indications of reducing fines and prison terms or amending the controversial laws would not address their fundamental concerns.
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Notorious Bengluru Catholic Diocese Archbishop Peter Machado who is known for the spewing the venom against the Hindus, had now asked the Congress led Karanataka government to fulfil its promises and repeal the anti-conversion and anti-cattle slaughter law.
In a statement to the media, Peter Machado, the Archbishop of Bangalore, and Mohammed Yahya Damudi, convener of the Karnataka Rajya Muslim Okkoota (KRMO), said Congress must act on its pre-poll promises.
“This (Congress) government, which was trying to get to power at that time put into the manifesto that if they came to power, they would withdraw (the laws) immediately,” Machado told reporters in Bengaluru Friday.
Bengaluru, Karnataka: Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado says, "Today we have called a press conference of the minority communities, the Dalit communities, the farmer communities, especially those that have been experiencing certain difficulties with the laws of the State.… pic.twitter.com/EA7BXHVSpN
— IANS (@ians_india) October 30, 2026
He added that the ruling Congress attributed the delays in repealing the laws to insufficient numbers in the state legislature’s upper house, which impacted the passage or withdrawal of Bills.
Bishop Machado said the government's reported indications of reducing fines and prison terms or amending the controversial laws would not address their fundamental concerns.Using a metaphor, he described such an approach as "removing a snake's teeth but leaving it in the room", insisting that the laws should be repealed in their entirety.
Archbishop Peter is openly demanding that Karnataka fully repeal the anti-conversion law and cow-slaughter protections, while also pushing a hate-speech law.
— Girish Bharadwaj (@Girishbdwj) October 31, 2026
1. The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022 does not ban voluntary conversion. It only… https://t.co/XtjNUZAvxQ
The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022 does not ban voluntary conversion. It only prohibits conversion through force, fraud, misrepresentation, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or promise of marriage. So if the law explicitly targets fraudulent and forced practices, why push for its total removal rather than recommending amendments to prevent its misuse?
This is not merely about “religious freedom.” Why would Church leaders and bishops campaign so relentlessly against legislation that strictly bans conversion through force, fraud, and undue influence?
This raises wider concerns about long-term demographic shifts that could impact social balance and regional security, forcing the state to weigh fundamental freedoms against protecting vulnerable communities from predatory allurements.