Belagavi:
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly, on Thursday, passed the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, or anti-conversion bill. The Bill was passed in the House amid ruckus by the Opposition.
What is Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, or anti-conversion bill?
The Bill will provide for the protection of the right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means.
It proposes imprisonment of up to 10 years for forced religious conversion.
In the state assembly on Thursday, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister, JC Madhuswamy, placed on the record that the bill was actually initiated by Siddaramaiah-led government in 2016.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah alleged that the drafted bill prepared in 2016 was completely different from what the one drafted by the incumbent state government in 2021.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai said, “We know the situation of SC and ST. They are ignored and remain vulnerable. Our intention behind bringing this bill is to protect SC, ST communities and women.”
During the discussion on the bill in the assembly, Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, K.S. Eshwarappa, said “We all are from the RSS and yes we borrowed from the RSS. RSS taught us to save this country, religion and culture. That’s why we have got this bill from that culture.”
Karnataka’s Minister for Science and Technology Ashwathnarayan CN said, “This was a much-awaited Bill. It will facilitate transparency and accountability. It is a forward-looking Bill that will address many challenges being currently faced. It will create harmony in the society.”
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