BENGALURU: Karnataka Kannada and culture minister V Sunil Kumar on Monday — the first day of the winter legislature session — stirred the hornet's nest further by saying that the states government would be bringing a fresh law against Love Jihad.
Speaking to reporters, Kumar said, "There is no doubt that the government will bring the anti-conversion bill in the ongoing legislature session. Like the way we brought the anti-cattle slaughter bill, we will also bring the anti-conversion laws and, going ahead, we will introduce a separate law for Love Jihad."
The minister said the BJP government was open to discussions and also suggestions on this issue from the opposition Congress party.
"Let them give their valuable suggestions and will take them also into consideration," said Kumar.
The Karkala legislator said the issue of forcible conversion was a raging issue in the state and claimed that even Swami Vivekanada had spoken against the issue by stating religious conversion was as good as a person converting his country identity.
However, home minister Arga Jnanendra feigned ignorance over why his cabinet colleague said the government will bring a separate law on anti-Love Jihad.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Siddaramaiah questioned the reasoning behind the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trying to introduce the anti-conversion bill.
"There is already a constitutional guarantee in this regard, which specifies that forcible conversion is against law and it cannot be done. The BJP is trying to introduce this law to divide the society on religious lines for their own political benefit," said Siddaramaiah.
Earlier, BJP Karnataka patron and former CM BS Yediyurappa endorsed his party government's decision to introduce the anti-conversion law as it is a "popular sentiment".
"The anti-conversion law will be brought, perhaps, in the last two days of the winter session. Already several of our legislators have given their suggestions and it is a popular sentiment. The law will be brought in," he said.
At the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), on Monday morning, the state government said it will be bringing as many as nine pieces of legislation but did not mention the anti-conversion bill.
Sources in the meeting said that Siddaramaiah questioned why the bill was not being spoken of and said if the BJP intends to bring the law then they should give the opposition parties two days time to understand the bill before it is tabled.
Siddaramaiah said the other nine pieces of legislations are more or less administrative in nature with the key pieces of legislations not being presented to the opposition.
