Anti-conversion law: First case breaks 'myth' about Muslims, says Karnataka Minister R Ashoka

Ashoka told reporters that all these days it was presumed that only Christians were involved in 'rampant conversion'

Taking serious note of Yeshwantpura police registering first case invoking the new anti-conversion law, Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Friday said the state government would take stringent measures against forced religious conversions.

Ashoka told reporters that the "myth" about Muslims not indulging in forceful religious conversion was busted. He said out that all these days it was assumed that only the Christian community was involved in conversion.

"With more cases involving Muslims coming to light, the state government will take steps to curb such illegal conversions done by luring Hindu youth into religious traps," Ashoka said.

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Referring to the Banashankari case in which the anti-conversion law has not been invoked, the minister said a Muslim leader who won from Banashankari twice on the Congress ticket was involved. "He along with two others harassed a Hindu youth from Mandya to convert into Islam. These accused have insulted Lord Shiva and Goddesses Banashankari, too," he claimed.

Quoting police investigations, Ashoka added that the accused forced the Hindu youth to consume beef. “The Hindu youth tolerated their torture all the while and finally booked a case against them. These accused even took him to their cemetery to torture him,” Ashoka said.

On October 13, the Yeshwantpur police registered a case under Section 5 of the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act and one Syed Mueen is under arrest. The Act seeks to prohibit "unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means".

The law was passed in the Assembly in December 2021, but was not introduced in the Legislative Council where the BJP lacked the required strength. In May 2022, an ordinance was promulgated to bring the anti-conversion law into effect. Last month, the Bill was introduced in the Monsoon Session of the legislature again with the BJP enjoying a clear majority of 41 members in the 75-member Council, ensuring its passage.