A sharp right turn under Bommai

‘Bommai’s Hindutva zeal seems mostly inspired by political pragmatism’

When Basavaraj Bommai succeeded B.S. Yediyurappa, many believed he would be able to strike a balance between Hindutva and his socialist moorings. But the Government led by him seems to have taken a sharp right turn, even more than under his predecessor, who was from the RSS stables.

The Basavaraj Bommai-led Government enacted the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, popularly called the “anti-conversion law”, on the lines of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, what many argue was “more draconian”. It was also preceded by a campaign of vigilante attacks on the Christian community.

The coastal belt also recorded an uptick in moral policing incidents, which Mr. Bommai even defended saying “there will always be a reaction when sentiments are hurt.”