Bangalore Archbishop opposes proposal of anti-conversion bill in Karnataka
Bangalore: Bangalore Archbishop Archdiocese and President of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado on Monday issued a press statement opposing the government’s proposal to introduce Anti-Conversion Bill.
The statement also rejected the survey ordered by the Backward & Minority Welfare Department which has directed its Administration and the Police Intelligence to conduct a survey of the religious personnel and places of worship, institutions, and establishments only of the Christian Community.
“The entire Christian Community in Karnataka opposes the proposal in one voice and questions the need for such an exercise when sufficient laws and court directives are in place to monitor any aberration of the existing laws. The Indian Constitution Article 25 very clearly says: "All persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health." Further, Article 26 says that all denominations can manage their own affairs in matters of religion,” the statement stated.
It said introducing such laws would infringe the rights of the citizens, especially of the minority communities.
“Moreover, the anti-conversion bill would become a tool for the fringe elements to take law into their own hands and vitiate the atmosphere with communal unrest in the otherwise peaceful state. Random and sporadic incidents should not be referred to the entire Christian Community in a bad light,” it added.
The Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department of Govt. of Karnataka have issued an order to conduct a survey of both official and non-official Christian missionaries and the Institutions and establishments functioning in the State.
“We fail to understand the compelling need behind such a move. 1lowever. if the Government so desires to have a survey let it do it. But why only the Christian community is targeted and marked for this arbitrary, fallacious and illogical move? When all the relevant data is already available with the Central and State Governments, why do we need yet another futile exercise? What is the motive that is driving them to do so? The Government is in possession of the actual census figures of the community since independence. If the allegations of rampant conversion across the State is true, why then the number has not increased beyond 1.87% as per the last census figures,” it further said.
“Thousands of schools, colleges, and hospitals are run and managed by Christian Community across the State. Lakhs of students are graduating from these institutions year after year. Thousands of patients irrespective of caste, creed, and color receive the best medical attention from our hospitals and care centers, let the Government prove that even one of them has ever been influenced, compelled, or coerced to change his or her religion. Notwithstanding this, if the Government is still bent on introducing the 'Anti-Conversion' Bill, we are afraid it will only fall into the hands of the undesirable elements and the fringe groups who will target the Christian community and attack our churches and institutions. It is sure to vitiate and bring in the communal conflagration and disturb the peace in the society,” it added.
Taking a dig at CM Bommai’s “action and reaction” over the increasing incidents of moral policing in the state, the press release added “This has only extolled and emboldened the fringe elements and self-styled vigilantes. Since then attacks and persecutions have increased in undesirable proportions on the religious minorities in the State. Add to this, another tool of 'Anti-conversion' law will only make all hell break lose. We are witnessing the distressing results of such laws elsewhere in the country”.
“In view of this and many more factors, we passionately appeal to our Hon'ble Chief Minister, through the columns of your esteemed daily, to withdraw the Orders issued by the Backward Class & Minority Welfare Department, and the proposal to introduce 'Anti-Conversion' Bill, and thereby preserve and contribute to the communal peace, tranquility, and brotherhood, which is the hallmark of any progressive State,” it concluded.
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DJ Black Coffee's event in Goa cancelled after NOC revoked on Good Friday
Panaji (PTI): The Goa leg of Grammy-winning South African DJ Black Coffee's India tour was cancelled at the last minute on Friday evening after authorities revoked the event's No Objection Certificate (NOC), a move intended to honour the solemnity of Good Friday.
Officials on Saturday cited the need to respect local sentiments and the religious significance of the day as the primary reason for withdrawing the permission previously granted to host the "Sunset-to-Night" event.
The opposition Congress demanded a probe by the Economic Offences Cell of the state against the organisers.
The revocation of permission by the Communidade of Anjuna, in whose land the event was scheduled to be hosted, followed an objection by locals and the Congress, citing the solemn occasion of Good Friday and the upcoming Easter Sunday.
Local police officials confirmed that the organisers of "Sunset to Night" have cancelled the event, leaving many revellers disappointed.
Sebastian D'Souza, an attorney of Communidade of Anjuna, in a letter addressed to organisers, stated that the NOC granted to them on March 4, 2026, to host the musical event on April 3 in survey number 206/1 of Anjuna village has been unanimously revoked by the managing committee.
D'Souza stated that the date coincides with Holy Week, particularly Good Friday.
"This has been decided in the interest of residents of Anjuna, Vagator and Chapora," the letter reads.
The Comunidade of Anjuna is a traditional, collective land-holding institution in North Goa, part of the twelve comunidades of Bardez.
A huge crowd assembled outside the venue of the programme on Friday night as the word spread about the cancellation.
Several netizens posted reels on social media claiming they were informed about the cancellation at the last minute.
Earlier, the Congress had objected to hosting such an event on the sacred occasion of Good Friday, calling it "deeply insensitive and unacceptable."
"Your event, @Paradoxindia_, in Goa on the sacred occasion of Good Friday is deeply insensitive and unacceptable. @RealBlackCoffee , this is not just about music- it is about respecting faith. By going ahead with a techno show on a day of mourning for Christians, you have hurt religious sentiments not just in Goa, but across the world," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar had written on X.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Patkar said that the state Congress would file a complaint with the Economic Offences Cell (EOC) against the organisers for allegedly selling tickets online without obtaining necessary permissions from authorities such as the Goa Pollution Control Board and the Fire and Emergency Services.
The event organisers could not be contacted immediately for their comment on the Congress leader's claim.
While at least 3,000 people had arrived in Goa to attend the event, the access road to the venue was not wide enough for Fire and Emergency Services vehicles to reach, Patkar claimed.
