Prohibition of religious conversion law passed in Karnataka despite protests

The Legislative Council, the upper house, approved the bill to ban forced religious conversions, which caused much protest in Karnataka. The bill, which was passed by the assembly on December 23, has now been approved by the upper house. The approval was delayed because the BJP did not have a majority in the council. The bill was introduced as an ordinance in May. It was passed in the council when its term was about to end in November.

On Thursday evening, Law Minister J.C. Madhuswamy introduced the bill. The bill was passed amid opposition from the opposition. Congress, J.D.S. Members left the congregation.

The BJP brought the bill to the House for approval only after securing a majority in the by-elections. BJP has 40 members in the 75 member assembly. The party status is 26 for Congress, eight for JDS and one independent. The bill was introduced in the name of Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill-2021. Those who commit forced conversions will be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to one lakh rupees. The BJP did not take into account the protest raised by the Christian Church. The government went ahead with the bill.

Key provisions of the Bill

• Those who wish to convert should apply to the Collector two months in advance.
• Forcing someone to convert is a non-bailable offence. * Three to ten years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 for conversion of minors, women or scheduled category
• Those who convert others will be imprisoned for up to five years and fined Rs 25,000.
• Ten years imprisonment and a fine of one lakh rupees for those who convert many people together.
  * Those who are converted will have to pay compensation up to five lakh rupees.
• It is a crime to attract people to religion by promising them free education in schools, employment or better living conditions.
• Promising proselytizing is also a crime.

The Christian Pentecostal churches strongly opposed the bill with such a number of provisions.
Karnataka is the ninth state to implement a similar bill.

Read in Tamil : எதிர்ப்புகளை மீறி கர்நாடகாவில் மத மாற்ற தடை சட்டம் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டது

Read in English: Prohibition of religious conversion law passed in Karnataka despite protests

Read in Hindi: कर्नाटक में विरोध के बावजूद धर्म परिवर्तन पर रोक कानून पारित

Read in Malayalam: പ്രതിഷേധം കണക്കിലെടുക്കാതെ കർണാടകയിൽ മതപരിവർത്തന നിരോധന നിയമം പാസാക്കി