The Congress Government in Karnataka led by its Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced its decision on Thursday (15 June 2023) to repeal the controversial anti-conversion law that was previously passed during the BJP regime.
According to Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil, “The bill introduced by the BJP in 2022 will be revoked, and the bill we are introducing will be in line with the Constitution.”
The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, which is commonly known as the anti-conversion law, was introduced by the previous BJP government and passed by the assembly in December 2021. The Congress party had opposed the bill at that time.
The anti-conversion law aimed to protect the right to freedom of religion and prohibited unlawful conversions through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or fraudulent means. It specifically prohibited conversions achieved through misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or the promise of marriage.
Violating the law resulted in imprisonment for a period of three to five years and a fine of ₹25,000. In cases involving the conversion of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman, or someone belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the imprisonment term was extended to ten years.
When the bill was passed by the previous government, the Congress party staged a walkout from the Assembly, using numerous adjectives to criticize the bill, including “anti-people,” “inhuman,” “anti-constitutional,” “anti-poor,” and “draconian.”
Since the implementation of the anti-conversion law, several cases have been filed in the state, with an average of more than one case reported every month.
While Congress and its supporters belonging to minority have rejoiced over the decision, many on social media lashed out calling it a anti-Hindu move. Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya slammed the Congress government saying that it was fulfilling PFI’s agenda in Karnataka.
