Karnataka assembly
Karnataka assembly passes anti-conversion bill
Belagavi/UNI: The anti-conversion bill was passed via voice vote in Karnataka assembly on Thursday amidst protests by the Congress.
Pandemonium erupted after BJP claimed that the anti-conversion bill was an improvement on the draft prepared during Opposition Siddaramaiah's tenure as the chief minister in 2016. Both members of the ruling and opposition members cast aspersions on each other.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai questioned the Congress that why the bill was processed by the law commission during Siddaramaiah's tenure as the chief minister and why it was not stopped then.
He said the then law minister had approved the draft bill and it was presented before the cabinet, which even Siddaramaiah agreed to.
Bommai also said the Congress prepared the then bill inspired by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who brought anti-conversion law in 2006.
The Chief Minister also mentioned about the BJP government led by Jai Ram Thakur in Himachal Pradesh amending the earlier 2016 law with the quantum of punishment raised from three to seven years.
It has also broadened the scope of the law to deal with 'Love Jihad'. The bill was passed unanimously with the Congress backing it in the House. Among the eight new provisions added in the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2019 also covered marriage done with the sole purpose of conversion.
Bommai said the present bill is constitutional and is with the purpose of stopping the forcible religious conversion and protecting Dalits and women. The bill's objective is to maintain public order as conversions create tension between communities.
The Chief Minister also alleged that the Congress was opposing the bill for vote bank politics and had a double-tongued approach towards the issue.
When Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri put the bill for voice vote, the Congress members trooped into the well of the House in protest against it.
Earlier Siddaramaiah, had agreed that the law commission report was submitted, but it was not discussed and approved by the then cabinet, and hence the then Congress government did not have any intention to implement the bill.
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