Anti-conversion bill passed in Karnataka Asembly amid Opposition's objection
The much-hyped anti-conversion bill was passed in the Karnataka Assembly today. Speaker Vishveshware Hegde Kageri based on the popular voice passed the bill. The Opposition Congress raised an objection from the morning and fought hard to ensure to stop the government from passing the bill in the Assembly, but failed.
FollowThe Karnataka anti-religious conversion bill that was in talks for last several weeks was passed in Assembly amidst strong opposition today.
Speaker Vishveshware Hegde Kageri going by the popular voice vote from BJP passed the bill.
The Congress kept fighting from the beginning till the drop but the bill, with BJP having a majority, was passed. Earlier in the morning, the Congress was left red-faced after Law Minister JC Madhuswamy exposed the Congress party's double standard. He flashed the documents showing that the bill was actually proposed during Siddaramaiah's tenure as CM in 2016.
The bill had come through law commission and it also has the signature of former Law Minister TB Jayachandra. To which, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah told that the bill had never come before the Cabinet and it was not cleared then.
The BJP had come prepared a week ago to ensure the bill gets passed in the Assembly and sourced the documents to corner the Congress, which the Opposition never expected. Earlier, DK Shivakumar tore the bill and refused to take part in the Assembly session accusing BJP of targeting a particular community.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah opposing the bill stated that the bill's provisions under Sections 3, 5, and 12 are based on the Gujarat model and doubted that the same (RSS) is behind Karnataka's draft bill. He also mentioned that the Hindu population was not declining as projected by the BJP. He also expressed fear of SC/ST welfare being targeted.
He mentioned that there are many Christian institutions and Hindu children studying and asked whether there was any case of forced conversion. To which Revenue minister R Ashoka said a case of forced conversion in school was registered in Mahadevpura Police station. CM Bommai and Home Minister also cornered the Opposition.
Bommai in reply to Siddaramaiah's fear about SC/ST welfare being impacted by this bill said, SC/ST communities will be financially and socially empowered. Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that the Opposition has termed the bill as RSS child and hidden agenda but as far as BJP is concerned the bill is to curb illegal conversion.
