Karnataka: Christian Community registers strong protest against introduction of Anti-Conversion Bill
Archdiocese of Bangalore submits memorandum to CM opposing state govt's move
Bengaluru: The Archdiocese of Bangalore on Friday submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai through Bengaluru DC, opposing the introduction of the Anti-Conversion Bill in the state.
An official press release stated that the memorandum was being submitted on behalf of the entire Christian community in Karnataka. The memorandum questioned the need for such an exercise when “sufficient laws and court directives are in place to monitor any aberration of the existing laws.”
The Karnataka government led by CM Bommai is expected to introduce the Anti-Conversion Bill in the state assembly in December this year.
The Indian Constitution Article 25 very clearly says, “Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion subject to public order, morality, and health. Further, Article 26 says that all denomination can manage their own affairs in matters of religion, and therefore, introducing such laws would infringe the rights of the citizens, especially of the minority communities.” the memorandum stated.
“When all the relevant data is already available (through the census) with the Government, why do we need yet another futile exercise? Why only the Christian community is targeted and marked for this arbitrary, fallacious and illogical move? What is the motive that is driving them to do so?” it added while pointing out that the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department of Government 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.
“Thousands of schools, colleges, and hospitals are run and managed by Christian Community across the Stale. When lakhs of students are graduating from these institutions year after year and 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 bill would religion. Moreover, anti-conversion 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,” it further added while calling on the CM and his cabinet not to promote such an “undesirable and discriminatory bill” in the interest of the harmony peace and in the society.
A delegation of the leaders led by Archbishop Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado submitted the memorandum after a brief meeting of over a hundred Christian leaders to take stock of the current situation and of the State, the press statement added.
A peace rally to protest the government's move, that was scheduled on Friday at the St. Joseph's Indian High School Grounds was also postponed to a future date owing to the inclement weather in the city.
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Kho Kho World Cup: Indian women's team crowned champion
New Delhi: The Indian women's team emerged champion in the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup with a dominant 78-40 victory in the summit clash against Nepal here on Sunday.
On a memorable night at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here, India produced a masterclass of speed, strategy and skill, dishing out a clinical show.
A brisk start marked Turn 1 as the Indian attackers took charge of the proceedings. Three batches in the Nepal women were out by simple touches on 7 occasions, putting 14 points to India's kitty.
Skipper Priyanka Ingle was in the best form with multiple touch points to her name, as the hosts started off in an excellent manner. This was enough to take the Women in Blue to 34 points and preventing a single Dream Run for the Nepal team.
Manmati Dhami got Vaishnavi Pawar, and B Samjhana eliminated Priyanka Ingle but B Chaithra took India's first batch of Turn 2 into the Dream Run.
๐ธ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐
— Kho Kho World Cup India 2025 (@Kkwcindia) January 19, 2025
Congratulations to #TeamIndia women for claiming the ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ-๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐#KhoKhoWorldCup #KKWC2025 #TheWorldGoesKho #Khommunity #KhoKho #KKWCWomen pic.twitter.com/tqlBPbTIdc
It wasn't for long, though, as Dipa completed the ALL OUT just moments later. This got the side back into the game but they only managed to score 24 points at the end of Turn 2, with an 11-point deficit at half time.
India were once again the dominant force in Turn 3, never allowing the Nepal defenders to settle in their stride. BK Dipa was a regular for Nepal but it went in vain throughout, ensuring that the Indians edged closer to the trophy.
Chaithra was the orchestrator of the Dream Run for India, taking the score to a massive 78 points in Turn 4. Their batch went on for a massive 5 minutes and 14 seconds, closing out the game for India and confirming them as the first-ever champions of the Kho Kho World Cup.
India's path to glory had included commanding victories over South Korea, Iran and Malaysia in the group stages, followed by triumph against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals and a masterful win over South Africa in the semi-finals.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐||
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 19, 2025
Indian๐ฎ๐ณ Women's Team beats Nepal 78-40; Clinches the inaugural #KhoKhoWorldCup Trophy. #Finals | #KhoKhoWorldCup | #TheWorldGoesKho | #BharatvsNepal | @Kkwcindia | @Media_SAI | @YASMinistry | pic.twitter.com/mh8NJuD6RX
