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Karnataka's weakened anti-superstition draft bill lacks teeth and claws

  • The much debated anti-superstition draft bill is ready, but does not include the stringent provisions proposed earlier
  •  Instead of banning, the draft bill merely suggests no 'forced implementation'
  • Worship at temples, churches and mosques and philosophical activities are not included in the draft bill.
  • Only such practices that are harmful to the society and also forcibly imposed on people have been banned
An Anti superstition draft bill but without teeth or nails

The State government has decided to table the temporarily deferred Anti-Superstition draft bill in the coming monsoon assembly session. The Cabinet sub-committee has agreed to the draft and after much debate in the legislative assembly, the draft bill will be passed, said Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, reports Kannada Prabha.

However, the draft bill has lost its teeth and claws as the stringent provisions proposed in the original bill have been toned down by merely suggesting no forced implementation. Crucially issues like 'Made Made Snana' and 'Kondotsava' are not mentioned at all.

The main reason suspected for such a toned down bill is said to be the forthcoming elections. It is felt that coming down heavily on the beliefs of people during elections may trigger an anti-wave for Congress. Hence certain modifications are made to the earlier stringent measures, said officials, reports Kannada Prabha.

Talking at a press meet on Wednesday, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said, the draft bill prepared under his chairmanship is ready with the Social Welfare Department. The bill is titled 'Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifices and Other Inhuman Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Bill' and will be introduced in the next monsoon sessions coming to November-December.

Kagodu Thimmappa clarified that everything cannot be curtailed by law and said only very cruel practices have been banned. Astrology, human sacrifice, nude worship, black magic, denuding a woman in the pretext of worship, violence in the name of ghosts and gods and such other acts are banned. He said, social practices cannot be banned but only through awareness a change can be brought. Animal sacrifice during village fair is an age old practice. It cannot be stopped by force but only through awareness. The draft bill has been prepared keeping all these into consideration, he said, reports Kannada Prabha.

The draft bill consists of stringent action against those who violate the provisions of the bill. However, worship at temples, churches and mosques and spiritual activities are not included in the draft bill, he said. Only such practices that are harmful to the society and also forcibly imposed have been banned, the rest is left for the discretion of the people, the Minister said.

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