Will Oppose Anti-conversion Bill, Govt Wants To Damage Certain Sections: Former Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy

TPI Staff December 22, 2021

91 1 minute read

2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections Will Be My Last: HD Kumaraswamy

Mumbai: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has confirmed that his Janata Dal (Secular) party will oppose the anti-conversion bill brought by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai government and alleged that the saffron party wants to harm certain sections by bringing in the bill.

Talking to reporters here, Kumaraswamy said, “We are going to oppose the bill. Introducing this bill in the House will not help anyone. According to me, the government’s responsibility is to look after the down-trodden people. Bringing this anticonversion Bill will not be helpful for anybody. By bringing this bill, the government wants to damage certain sections.”

Opposing the anti-conversion bill, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said he will tear up the bill as it is against the Constitution. KPCC chief said that we want to stop it before presenting it.

“They’ve to go by the majority, but the Speaker joined hands with the govt,” the minister added.

“I will tear the Bill, it is against the Constitution. We wanted to stop it before its introduction. They have to go by the majority, but the Speaker joined hands with the government. We will oppose it tooth and nail,” said Shivakumar opposing the anticonversion Bill in Belagavi, Karnataka.

Earlier on Tuesday, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra tabled the anticonversion bill in the state Legislative Assembly.

The “Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021”, introduced in the Assembly by Home Minister Araga Gyanendra, provides protection of the right to freedom of religion and prohibits illegal conversion from one religion to another, makes misrepresentation. By undue influence, coercion, inducement or any fraudulent means. It proposes imprisonment of up to 10 years for forced conversion.

The Karnataka Assembly Speaker announced that he has allowed the government to introduce the anti-conversion bill as per the procedure, and it will be taken up for discussion on December 22. Congress opposed the Bill tabled by the Karnataka Government and called the Bill “draconian and anti-Constitution”, staging a walkout from the assembly. Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar tore the copy of the Bill inside the House.