Karnataka cabinet gives nod to anti-conversion bill
Belagavi/UNI: Karnataka cabinet here on Monday approved the anti-conversion bill, which prohibits conversion from one religion to another.
The cabinet meeting was held here where the winter session of state assembly is being held.
The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill 2021 is ready for tabling in the House.
The proposed law is aimed at penalizing people who convert by fraudulent means or by marriage. It introduces penal clauses for violating article 25 of the Constitution which says that forced conversion or conversion by allurement is unconstitutional.
The bill also demands facilitators and interested persons to inform local authorities and declare their conversion details to the deputy commissioner (DC) using a prescribed application. The facilitators - purohits, maulvis or priests - should also declare the conversion.
On doing this, the DC will review these applications to examine whether those who converted were lured or not, after which permission will be granted.
The proposed law is similar to the laws brought in by BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The BJP is bringing the bill as an instrument to save Hinduism and the country's cultural identification.
The Congress has already asserted that it will oppose the bill in the House.
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