B'luru: Hundreds join protests against Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill
Bengaluru: Hundreds of people on Wednesday joined to protest against the ‘Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill 2021’ calling it anti-people and unconstitutional.
The protest rally began from Mysore Bank Circle and culminated at Freedom Park. A broad coalition of more than 40 organizations vociferously demanded that the Bill be withdrawn as the Government of Karnataka is trampling upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion, privacy, and dignity.
Speaking at the protest, advocate and constitutional law expert Arvind Narrain said that the Supreme Court has recognized that individuals have the freedom to dress the way they want, eat what they want and practice the faith they want. The bill by seeking to target conversions interferes with both the human right to dignity and the freedom to practice the faith of their choice.
Gowramma of Janwadi Mahila Sanghatan stated that these are dark days in Karnataka and the bill is not just an attack on religion but an attack on all women. The bill presumes that women and individuals from Dalit and SC communities do not have the agency to decide the religion they want to belong to. Demanding that the state withdraw the bill, she asked that the government should instead be paying attention to problems of nutrition, unemployment, and rising violence against women.
Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado urged the state to reconsider the bill and withdraw it. The bill is harmful to not only Christians but also many other communities. He pointed out that many laws exist already to prevent forced conversions. The Christian community has always served the country and its poor and forced conversions are a mortal sin for us, he added.
Yousuf Kunhi, Jamaat-e-Islami, Karnataka chapter, directly addressing the Lingayat MLAs in Karnataka’s assembly, stated that by supporting the bill, they would be going against Basavanna’s teachings. He also asked all the supporters of the bill in the Assembly to resign because they won the elections on the basis of the constitution and promised development, progress, and communal harmony. If they cannot deliver on these promises, they have no right to continue in office, he added.
C.S. Dwarkanath, the former chairperson of the State Backward Classes Commission, asked on what basis was the law being formulated without any discussions with experts and lawyers.
Citing Ambedkar’s stance on conversion, he said that the constitution-maker had declared that people should not be born into a religion but should be allowed to choose their faith. It is also the inherent discrimination and the absence of fraternity within Hindu religion that prompts people to convert, he pointed out.
Clifton D’Rozario from All India Lawyers Association for Justice stated that this is a fascist attack on minorities, women, and the oppressed in our society. Pointing to the Chief Minister BS Bommai attending an event organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in the middle of the assembly session, he said that the CM had called conversion a big disease, the government was tackling it through such laws but the VHP and Bajrang Dal should start a statewide campaign about this. All this highlights the ways in which the fascist political project is being implemented through the law.
Ruth Manorama of Women’s Voice highlighted her own Dalit Christian identity and said that as an activist with 40 years of experience working with slum residents, Dalits, and women and the capacity to mobilize lakhs of people, she had not converted even one individual. Arguing that the bill is anti-Christian, anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, she said that as citizens we believe in secularism and will protect it till our death.
Advocate BT Venkatesh, activist Akkai Padmashali, writer Sharifa, among others also spoke at the protest.
Large number of people gathered to register their protest against this unconstitutional bill. Through speeches, resistance music, and constitutional slogans we demanded that the Government take back the bill.
“Our protest against the bill is grounded in the understanding of the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, whose maker is none other than Babasaheb Ambedkar. The bill, falsely citing the prevalence of forced conversion seeks to prohibit conversion by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, and allurement. In reality, it aims to criminalize the practice of faith and openly assault fundamental rights to individuals.
“The presumption underlying this bill is that there is some sinister motive behind a person converting and that legitimizes this open assault on the right to freely practice religion under Article 25 of the Constitution. This bill is being brought in by creating a myth of ‘forced conversion’ and ‘forced mass conversion’ when there are none. The census statistics actually show that the proportion of the Christian population in India and in Karnataka is on a steady decline. Despite this, the bill is being rammed through to legitimize hate crimes against minorities.” a joint press release stated.
Organizations that participated in the protest: All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights, All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA), All India Lawyers association for justice (AILAJ), All India People's Forum (AIPF), All India Students Association (AISA), Ashirvad Centre for Social Concern, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Campaign Against Hate Speech, Bahutva Karnataka, Dalit Christian Liberation Movement, Dalit Minority Sena, Dalitha Samara Sene, DSS (Bheemvada), Ecumenical Council for Drought Action and Management, Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity Karnataka Chapter (FDCA -K), Forward Trust, Gamana Mahila Samuha, !ಾರ$ೕಯ ಜನಕ*ಾ ಸ,$ (Indian People’s Theatre Association), Indian Citizens Forum, Indian Social Institute – Bangalore, Karnataka Christa Sanghatane, Karnataka Janashakti, Karnataka Muslim Muttahida Mahaz, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Karnataka Vidyarthi Sanghatane, Karnataka Yuva Dhwani, Liberation Through Cultural Action, Movement for Justice, Naaveddu Nilladiddare Karnataka, NAPM – Karnataka, National Solidarity Forum, OIKOTREE Global Forum, Ondede, Orissa Development Action Forum, PUCL - Karnataka, Reachlaw, Samvidhanada Haadiyalli, Study Circle Group, Students Christian Movement India (SCMI), Swaraj Abhiyan, United Christian Forum India, Women's voice.
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No objection to action against grandson if he is found guilty: Deve Gowda on sexual abuse case
Bengaluru (PTI): JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda, who turned 92 on Saturday, broke his silence over the sexual abuse charges levelled against his grandson and MP Prajwal Revanna and said he has no objection to the action taken against him if found guilty.
However, he said the cases against his son and JD(S) MLA H D Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual harassment and kidnap of a woman, were "created", but refrained from commenting further, as the matter was subjudice.
Recently, Gowda had announced his decision not to celebrate his birthday and requested well wishers and party workers to wish him from wherever they are.
"... I don't want to comment on things that are going on in the court regarding Revanna. Prajwal Revanna has gone abroad, regarding that Kumaraswamy (Gowda's other son and state JD(S) chief) has on behalf of our family said it is the duty of the government to take action in accordance with the law of the land," Gowda said.
Addressing reporters here, the former PM said, "There are several people connected to this (sexual abuse cases), I don't want to take anyone's names. Kumaraswamy has said that those who are involved in this matter, action should be taken against all of them, and the affected women should get justice and compensation."
"There is no objection from us for taking action against Prajwal. But people have come to know (facts) about the allegations made against Revanna, how the case has been created. In one case he has got the bail, in another case there is judgment day-after-tomorrow...I don't want to comment on it," he said as he concurred with Kumaraswamy's statement that if found guilty no one should be spared.
Prajwal (33) is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice has been issued against him, in an effort to bring him back.
He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's joint candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls on April 26.
Meanwhile, Gowda's 66-year-old son, Revanna, a former Minister, has got interim anticipatory bail from a court here, in a sexual harassment case, in which his son Prajwal is also an accused.
Asked whether there was a conspiracy to defame and scuttle his family politically, Gowda said, "It is true... over all what all has happened, several people are involved, I won't take names. Kumaraswamy will say on what action to be taken."
Responding to a query on BJP leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda's allegations that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is behind the circulation of pen drive containing explicit videos involving Prajwal Revanna, Gowda said, Kumaraswamy will respond to all of this.
"We have seen in the media as to what Devaraje Gowda has said. Kumaraswamy has been reacting to all this actively as the party's state President, he will speak, I won't at this point. I had campaigned for Lok Sabha polls, on June 4 after Lok Sabha polls results are announced, I will meet you (media)," he added.
Gowda also appealed to media persons campaign near his house to end it. "I also appeal to your owners."
