Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, on Sunday hinted that the draft anti-conversion bill could be introduced during the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly in Belagavi. Bommai said that the draft anti-conversion bill for Karnataka will be approved by the Karnataka state Cabinet before being introduced in the winter session slated to begin on Monday.

“A majority of people want to ban religious conversion. The law department is reviewing it (draft bill). After the review, it will be cleared in the cabinet meeting,” Bommai told reporters in Hubbali. He added that the draft rule proposed by the law department would be approved and the subject may come up for discussion during the winter session of the Assembly.

No need for religious groups to panic: Bommai

Bommai said that there was no need for any religious groups to panic as the religious conversion bill will not pose any threat to people of different faiths praying and following their respective religions. He justified the move saying that the bill was contemplated since independence and added that religious conversions were not good for the society.

“Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs are the faiths recognised by the constitution and there is no problem for people to pray or follow their respective religions. However, there is no scope for misusing someone’s poverty to lure them to change their faith,” Bommai said.

So far, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have brought anti-conversion laws which mandate tough punishments for forced conversions through marriage. A number of Christian organisations, including the Archdiocese of Bangalore, have opposed the proposed law against religious conversions in Karnataka.