Guwahati News Desk: The Anti-Conversion bill was passed by the Karnataka assembly on Thursday.
According to sources, the bill aims at preventing instances which cause disturbance to public order and to punish those indulged in acts of ‘allurement’, ‘coercion’, ‘force’ and ‘fraudulent means.’
The anti-conversion bill also has a provision for jailing those who engage in mass religious conversion. Hence, the bill has been strongly opposed by the Congress and by the Christian community leaders as well.
In addition, when the bill was passed in a voice vote, the Congress MLAs entered the well of the house in protest on Thursday.
Moreover following the introduction of the bill, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the bill an RSS agenda, to which rural development minister KS Eshwarappa replied it is to save the ‘culture’ of the country.
Furthermore in case of any violation, the bill has provisions of five years imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 25,000, while for violation of provisions with respect to minors, women, SC/ST, offenders will face imprisonment from three to 10 years and a fine of not less than Rs. 50,000.