On 14th September (Monday), Bangalore Archbishop Peter Machado took a Christian delegation to visit Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his Bengaluru home. His son and Karnataka home minister, Priyank Kharge, notorious for his consistent anti-Hindu stance, was also present there. The objective of the meeting was to seek the abolition of the state’s anti-conversion law and a special 1% reservation for the community.
The Archbishop’s office released an official statement which read, “The delegation expressed its concerns regarding the provisions of the legislation and its implications for the Christian community, particularly with regard to the exercise of constitutional freedoms and the right to practise and propagate one’s faith.”
“The delegation highlighted the socio-economic challenges faced by sections of the Christian community and urged that appropriate measures be taken to ensure greater opportunities in education, employment and other areas of development,” it further conveyed.
Several demands were put forward by the delegation, including greater involvement in government boards, corporations, and other statutory and nominated entities, as well as increased political and administrative representation and the nomination of a Christian representative to the Karnataka Legislative Council.
The Christian leaders asked for a 1% exclusive reservation for the group under the Backwards Class category. The community currently holds a 5% reservation with five other communities and their subgroups under Category-3B. They also pressed the government to expand employment, education and other development opportunities for the community.
They mentioned that Kharge offered them “a patient and attentive hearing” and promised to address their concerns with the government.
The previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government passed the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022. Conversion from one faith to another through “use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by any of these means or by promise of marriage” is forbidden by law.
Forced conversion is punishable by up to three to five years in prison and a fine of Rs 25,000. However, the Congress government declared its intention to remove the law in June 2023, shortly after taking office. However, no steps have been taken in this direction yet.
