The ruling BJP in Karnataka which managed to get the controversial anti-conversion Bill passed got a smooth passage in the Legislative Council scored another political goal , which was a part of its manifesto. The controversial bill got passed in the Council amid a walkout by Congress party has raised concerns in a section of minority leaders that it could be used to intimidate some people who wish to convert their religion.
The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, also known as the anti-conversion law, was piloted by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, and was passed by voice vote after prolonged debate.
The opposition Congress party which has been vociferously opposing the Bill, walked out of the Council ahead of the voice vote. BJP which had a slender lead with 39 in the 75-member Legislative Council, ensured the Bill’s passage.

Although the controversial Bill had earlier been cleared by the Legislative Assembly in December 2021, the ruling BJP opted for the Ordinance route in May this year, as it did not have the numbers to steer it through the 75-member Legislative Council. However, with the BJP which enjoys a majority in the Upper House after the Council elections in July this year, decided to table the contentious Bill last week .
Karnataka’s version of the Bill is more stringent than in the other BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Home minister Araga Jnanendra said conversions are becoming rampant through unfair means. Last year in December, amid the ruckus by the Opposition, the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 or anti-conversion Bill was passed in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly but due to the lack of majority, the Prohibition of Conversion Bill was not presented in the Council.

The Bill proposes imprisonment of up to 10 years for forced religious conversion and the offence is made to be a non-bailable and cognizable.

The Bill mandates prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means.
The bill introduced by the BJP government gives the right to any person to file a complaint against religious conversion, protecting the right to freedom of religion in the state.
It
According to the new law, any converted person, his parents, brother, sister, or any other person who is related to him by blood, marriage, adoption, or in any form associated, or colleague may file a complaint of such conversion.

Several Christian community leaders fear that , even pople desirous of converting will be put to undue fear and intimidation as has been reported in the recent past in several districts of Karnataka.
The bill has the purpose of prohibiting unlawful conversion of religion, providing protection to those who were forced to convert from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, the promise of marriage, or by any fraudulent means and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
“No person shall convert or attempt to convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person from one religion to another by use or practice of force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by any other means or promise of marriage, nor shall any person abet or conspire such conversion,” the Bill stated.