Anti-Conversion Bill: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Anti-Conversion Bill, To Be Tabled In Assembly On Tuesday

The law makes religious conversion a non-bailable offence that can invite 10 years of imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 1 lakh

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. (Image: PTI File)

New Delhi: The Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka passes the controversial anti-conversion bill, 2021 on Monday. The bill is to be tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday. The Cabinet agreed to clear the 'Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021' without any changes. 

The anti-conversion bill in Karnataka has been modeled on the basis of the UP law on Conversion. The law makes 'forced' religious conversion a non-bailable offence that can invite 10 years of imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 1 lakh.

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For conversion involving a woman, minor, or SC/ST person, the jail term is up to 3-10 years with a fine of Rs 50,000. The proposed law is aimed at penalising people who convert by fraudulent means or by marriage. Mas conversion will attract 3-10 years of imprisonment with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. 

The opposition came down heavily on the government for proposing it. Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah accused the ruling BJP government of trying to divert the focus from the main issues by bringing up the emotives like "love Jihar, Anti-Conversion Bill". The leader of Opposition have asserted on Friday that his party wouldn't allow Anti-Conversion Bill into force.   

ರಾಜ್ಯ @BJP4Karnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ತರಲು ಹೊರಟಿರುವ ಮತಾಂತರ ನಿಷೇಧ ಕಾಯಿದೆ ಹಿಂದೆ ಜನರ ಹಿತ ಇಲ್ಲ. ದೇಶದ ಕೋಮುಸೌಹಾರ್ದ ಹಾಳುಗೆಡಹುದೇ ಇದರ ದುರುದ್ದೇಶ. 2/10

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 17, 2021

(This is a developing story. Watch this space for more updates)