Belagavi: Amidst protest of opposition Congress and JD(S), the Legislative Assembly has passed the controversial Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion bill 2021 popularly called as the anti-conversion bill. 

Congress has staged a dharna in the Assembly shouted that bill was the hidden agenda of RSS.” At the behest of RSS, ruling BJP has brought the bill, invisible hands were behind in drafting the bill”, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah alleged.

When Congress members thronged to the well of the House over unparliamentary remarks of RDPR Minister K.S.Eshwarappa against those who convert Hindus into their religion, Speaker has called the Home Minister Araga Jnanendra to reply on the bill. Congress members have shouted against the government and K.S.Eshwarappa, with amidst protest, House has passed the bill with voice votes without the answer of the Home Minister.

Before approving the bill Mr. Eshwarappa admitted that “the bill was brought to the House on behest of RSS. Yes, to safeguard the Hindu from forcible conversion and to prevent the decrease of population of Hindu, we brought the bill, we will shred into pieces of those who convert Hindus to their religion”, Mr. Eshwarappa warned.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah stated that RSS supporters and BJP leaders have submitted the memorandum to then Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa to bring anti-conversion bill on the lines of Madhya Pradesh.

He reads out the memorandum copy submitted by Jayadev, K. Narahari, Chidananda Murthy,  D.N. Murthy, Dr. Mattur Krishnamurthy, Leela to then Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa urged him to bring anti-conversion law. The representatives submitted the memorandum was belongs to RSS and BJP, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. 

Mr. Siddaramaiah further stated that RSS leaders have requested Mr. Yediyurappa to bring the anti-conversion bill and they further suggested him that the government no need to draft the bill, it just take the bill of the Madhya Pradesh government, add Karnataka state instead of Madhya Pradesh, Siddaramaiah pointed out.

“RSS has played a major role in bringing the bill, it was hidden agenda of RSS. Memorandum was also submitted to the Law Commissioner Justice V.S.Malimatt, Even Justice Malimatt suggested taking the legal opinion of Justice Rama Jois in this regard. Thus it was proved that bill was the brainchild of BJP government and not Congress government”, Mr. Siddaramaiah clarified.

Yediyurappa admitted that he had received the memorandum of RSS leaders seeking implementation of anti-conversion law, he was happy to bring such law in the state.