Faith, history & nationhood: The many facets of anti-conversion Bill debate

The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Anti-conversion Bill amid uproar by the Opposition during the ongoing Winter Session of the Asembly. The day was reserved for discussion on the Bill.

"The Anti-conversion Bill is Constitutional and pro-people," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said while speaking to mediapersons at the Suvarna Soudha here.

The bill was passed by a voice vote on Thursday, even as Congress members were protesting from the well of the House, demanding continuation of the debate on it, that began earlier in the day.

Read | Siddaramaiah counters BJP on anti-conversion Bill

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister K S Eshwarappa, during a heated debate on the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, said the BJP government would bring “another hundred Bills” to protect Hindu dharma.

“Yes, we’re all RSS. And yes, the [Bill] came from the RSS. The RSS has taught us the culture of protecting this nation and dharma. We will bring a hundred more Bills, just like how we enacted the anti-cow slaughter law,” he said.

Eshwarappa also made a remark that prompted Congress MLAs to rush into the well of the House.

“Whatever benefits the nation and dharma, in accordance with what RSS has taught us, we will bring such Bills and save dharma in this state. We won’t allow Hindus to be converted. We won’t allow our population to reduce. We won’t bother others. But if someone bothers us, we will tear them apart,” the minister said, angering the Congress.

The Bill witnessed a debate of nearly six hours traversing the chapters of history. Members such as Priyank Kharge and N Mahesh recalled speeches made by B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi on the issue of conversion.

Former Congress minister K J George said the Bill would lead to harassment of Christians.

“I agree that this Bill isn’t against any religion, but there are problems when one does a fine-reading of it,” he said.

Read | D K Shivakumar vows to repeal Karnataka anti-conversion law if voted to power

“The Bill defines allurement as gift, employment and free education. If we want to do something good to society and provide free education, is it wrong,” he asked.

He said Christians run several educational institutions. “If I provide a job to someone, I can be accused of conversion,” he said.

JD(S) deputy legislature party leader Bandeppa Kashempur also said there is no need for an anti-conversion law. “The panic is that this law will be misused and lead to harassment,” he said.

BSY warns Cong

Former chief minister B S Yediyurappa warned the Congress against opposing the Bill.

“If you continue like this, people will tear you apart just like D K Shivakumar tore the copy of the Bill,” he said.

“Christians can worship Jesus, Muslims can believe in Mohammed Paigambar and Hindus can worship their gods. The point is that there shouldn’t be forced conversion. Nobody can differ on this,” he said.

What the Bill says:

The Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, popularly known as Anti-conversion Bill proposes protection of right to freedom of religion and prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

"No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person from one religion to another by use or practice of force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by any other means or promise of marriage, nor shall any person abet or conspire such conversion," the Bill says.

According to new law, any converted person, his parents, brother, sister or any other person who is related to him by blood, marriage or adoption or in any form associated or colleague may lodge a complaint of such conversion which contravenes the provisions, the offence is made to be non-bailable and cognizable.

The bill proposes declaration before conversion of religion and also pre-report about conversion. The declaration of post conversion of religion is also proposed. If any institution violates the Act, imprisonment of up to three to five years with a fine of Rs 25,000 is proposed. If the victim is a minor, the imprisonment is extended up to 10 years.

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