Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated on Tuesday that the Karnataka administration is seriously considering enacting legislation prohibiting religious conversion by force or persuasion in the state.
“Conversions of this nature occur from time to time. I provided suitable instructions to district administrations a few days ago not to allow any religious conversion by inducement or force, as it is prohibited,” in answer to a query on reported religious conversions in Kalaburagi and Byadarahalli, Bommai remarked.
“As a result of several such occurrences,” he told reporters today, “we are seriously considering enacting a legislation prohibiting religious conversion by coercion or force.”
Last week, State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra told the legislative assembly that the government was considering creating a law to regulate religious conversions, after a ruling BJP MLA from Hosadurga, Goolihatti Shekhar, claimed that his own mother converted to Christianity after being induced.
Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, all BJP-ruled states, already have laws prohibiting forceful religious conversion.
(With inputs from PTI)
