The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed the contentious Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, also known as the anti-conversion Bill.
Home Minister Araga Jnanendra tabled the Anti-conversion Bill and after around several hours of debating, the Bill was passed by a voice vote. The Bill aims to prevent conversion from one religion to another by what the government refers to as misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or any so-called fraudulent means.
People found guilty of conversion will be given minimum punishment of three to five years and a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.
The Karnataka government passed the Anti Conversion Bill in December 2021. However, the ruling BJP did not have majority in the Legislative Council, so they brought the Bill through an ordinance in May 2022. An ordinance needs to get approved by the state legislature within six months of being passed.
Several opposition leaders, lawyers and activists have criticized the bill as it is considered to be more stringent than similar laws introduced in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Congress also opposed the Bill in the Assembly, saying that it goes against the fundamentals of the Constitution.
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
