The BJP government on Tuesday tabled a controversial bill against religious conversions amid ruckus in the Karnataka Assembly with Congress lawmaker D.K. Shivakumar tearing a copy, objecting to its contents.

The Opposition protested after Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri allowed home minister Araga Jnanendra to table The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, as part of the supplementary agenda.

Opposition members shouted “shame, shame” after the bill was tabled in the winter session underway in Belgaum without including it in the main agenda and the Speaker disallowed discussion until Wednesday.

Leader of the Opposition P.C. Siddaramiah termed the bill as unconstitutional. “This bill is in violation of the Constitution. We are against the bill itself since it’s draconian,” he said, demanding an immediate discussion.

Siddaramiah objected to the inclusion of such a controversial bill in the supplementary agenda without informing the business advisory committee. “You never said the bill would be tabled today and didn’t even inform the business advisory committee. You brought the bill today with mala fide intentions,” he said, accusing the ruling party of bypassing procedures.

The Speaker however contended that it was his duty to allow the bill to be tabled since the government wanted to do so. “You are opposed to allowing this in the supplementary agenda. But it’s my duty to allow it when the government wants to table it,” Kageri explained.

Shivakumar questioned the discreet manner in which the bill was tabled. “Where was the need to table it so discreetly? We want to have our say and that is our right,” he said amid the din.

But the speaker refused to budge and said the bill would be taken up for discussion only on Wednesday. “The bill has already been introduced. So discuss its rights and wrongs on Wednesday,” he repeatedly urged the protesting opposition members.

Law minister J.C. Madhuswamy was among those from the ruling benches who tried to pacify the enraged opposition. “We have not specifically said Christians, Muslims or Parsis. We are only against forced conversions,” he said.

Siddaramiah said that his party would participate in the discussion and would not allow the BJP to have its way. “We will participate in Wednesday’s discussion and vehemently oppose the bill,” he said.

The bill proposes jail terms of up to 10 years for “fraudulent” conversions by inducement or force and any offence will be non-bailable and cognizable. It even targets inter-faith marriages with a provision to annul any marital alliances “for the sole purpose of conversion.”

The bill even puts the burden of proof on those accused of fraudulent conversions.

The bill moots a lengthy process of informing the district magistrate 60 days before anyone plans to embrace another faith, and denial of government facilities such as caste-based reservations to all those who convert.
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