The proposed bills on anti-conversion and “love jihad” are likely to create a stir in the ongoing winter session of the Karnataka Assembly in Belgaum on Monday.
The Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in the state has decided to introduce the controversial anti-conversion bill in both the Assembly and the Legislative Council, claiming it is necessary to “save Hindus”. The opposition Congress has threatened to take a direct fight with the government and oppose the bill, terming it discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Some ministers and legislators considered close to the RSS have demanded a complete ban on conversions and also urged the government to introduce a separate bill to ban “love jihad”.
The heated debate over alleged mass conversions by Christian preachers began three months ago when BJP MLA and former minister Goolihatti Shekhar made a sensational disclosure in the Assembly that her mother after converting to Christianity for a while was “under some evils”. had returned to Hinduism to ward off the Hindu religion, which had destroyed peace in the family”.
CM Bommai has said that the proposed bill aims to protect Hindus, mainly Dalits and STs from missionaries who lure them to a new religion, promising “miracles and economic benefits”.
Talking to the media, he said, ‘This bill will not discriminate against Christians. There will be no trouble and they can coexist peacefully. Christians are free to practice their religion. It is against doing business in the name of religion.
Christian community leaders have expressed surprise over the proposed bill, terming it harsh and unconstitutional. The Archbishop of Bengaluru, Dr Peter Machado, has said that this will make all Christians “second-class citizens”. Addressing the media, he said that the Catholic Church is not into converts and if the government proves to the contrary, he will shut down all Christian-run schools, colleges and hospitals in Karnataka.
Some Catholic community leaders, however, acknowledge that foreign funded missionaries such as the New Life Church, Pentecostal, Zion, Bethel, etc., are into converts.
“Ordinary people don’t know that Christianity is not a monolithic religion. There are hundreds of sects in Christianity. Some sects are in conversion. They are also posing a threat to Catholics and old Protestants. The aggressive stand of the BJP government in the state has affected the South. India’s Catholic and Protestant-run churches will suffer, as both of them are the most visible symbols of Christianity,” said a senior priest in Bengaluru.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje has demanded that Bommai get the bill passed in the current session. Home Minister Araga Gyanendra, who is handling the bill, has expressed confidence that the bill will be passed.
Kannada and Culture Minister V Sunil Kumar has said that the “anti-love jihad” bill will also be introduced in the current session of the legislature. Alleging that some Muslim organizations are “trapping Hindu girls in the name of love”, he called it a much-needed safeguard. The leaders of the Muslim community have opposed it, calling it a weapon to harass people.
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah has challenged the Bommai government to take forward the proposed bills. “These are unconstitutional bills. This makes them second class citizens. Bommai is insecure about his position. He is not a people’s leader. He is doing this to please the RSS to continue in power. We will oppose it both inside and outside the assembly,” the former CM said.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And coronavirus news Here.
,