Karnataka Cabinet decides to repeal anti-conversion law introduced by BJP

The government will introduce a bill in this regard in the upcoming legislature session, which starts on July 3

In a significant political move, the Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to repeal the stringent law regulating religious conversion introduced by the previous BJP government.

The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022 was passed by the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government. The Congress had promised to revoke this law if voted to power.

Briefing reporters, Law Minister H K Patil said that the Cabinet has decided to table a Bill to repeal the Act in the upcoming budget session of the legislature.

The anti-conversion law had irked minorities, especially Christians who feared they would be targeted.

Read | Congress is 'new Muslim League', says BJP after Karnataka Cabinet decision to repeal anti-conversion law

The BJP had claimed that there were several "forced" conversions happening in the state, especially targeting young women and those from marginalised communities.

The law prohibits conversion from one religion to another by "use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by promise of marriage". It proposed imprisonment up to 3-5 years and a penalty of Rs 25,000 for forced conversion.

Converting a minor, woman or an SC/ST person is punishable with a jail term of 3-10 years, and a fine of Rs 50,000. Mass conversion would attract jail time of up to 10 years with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, as per the Act, which also had provisions to deal with religious conversion for the sake of marriage or 'Love Jihad' as propounded by the Hindu right-wing.

The BJP reacted strongly to the Congress government's move. BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said the "conversion mafia" had ensured withdrawal of the law. Ravi said the decision "will prove costly for Hindus" and described Congress as "the new Muslim League".

BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said the decision affirmed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's "anti-Hindu agenda". In a tweet, Yatnal asked: "Do you want Hindus to be wiped out?"

APMC Act

The Cabinet also decided to revoke the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Act that allowed private entities to directly trade with farmers, thereby curtailing the powers of the APMCs.

In the Bill that the Congress government will now introduce, traders will be able to purchase agricultural produce outside the premises of an APMC, but within the jurisdiction of said APMC by paying a requisite fee.

The existing law is "detrimental" and APMCs are suffering losses, Agricultural Marketing Minister Shivanand Patil said.