The Karnataka Tehsildar, whose official survey disproved the BJP government allegations of a rise in forced conversions in the state, has now been transferred without explanation. The survey was carried out in one of the districts that have been subject to these allegations raising questions on the validity of the government claim.
Y Thippeswamy, the Tehsildar of Hosadurga Taluk got his transfer order on December 15, in what has been seen as a repercussion for debunking government claims.
The survey was ordered by the Tehsildar after BJP leader and Hosadurga MLA Gulihatti Chandrashekar made a sweeping allegation on the floor of the house that nearly 20,000 people in his constituency had converted to Christianity, including his own mother.
The survey was conducted to find out the number of forced conversions but ended up concluding that no forced conversions have taken place.
I conducted the survey after several allegations of forced conversions in two villages. But when I enquired with the people, they said they were not lured with any benefits and converted out of their own will,” NDTV quoted the Tehsildar as saying.
His report noted that the people who had converted to a different faith had done it by their own accord.
Despite the survey refuting the government claims, the BJP regime in Karnataka has proposed a draft bill to prevent religious conversion in the state.
Called the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill 2021, the bill has proposed a maximum punishment of 10 years of imprisonment for forcible conversion of persons from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe communities, minors and women, to another religion.
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