Will take legal action if anti-conversion bill is given assent, says Bengaluru archbishop
India Today
A delegation from Bengaluru archbishop's office met Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to request him not to give assent to anti-conversion bill.
A delegation from Bengaluru Archbishop Peter Machado's office met Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to request him not to pass the anti-conversion bill.
Addressing the media following the meeting, the delegation members said, "He [Governor] is the highest authority in the state. We requested him not to pass this bill. The bill is not needed. It was a surprise for us that all of a sudden the bill was sent through ordinance."
"They could have waited for another two months. The governor can stall it. If the bill is passed, then we will consider taking legal action. Perhaps the government was forced by some groups and people to sideline the minorities," they added.
READ | Karnataka government gives effect to anti-conversion bill through ordinance
The Karnataka government has taken the ordinance route in order to give effect to the law against religious conversions.
The anti-conversion bill is aimed at preventing conversion by means of 'allurement', 'coercion', 'force', 'fraudulent means', and also 'mass', conversion. According to the government, these instances cause disturbance of 'public order' in the state.
"We will surely put our trust in the government to protect our interests and concerns. We have no difficulty in government taking action against any excesses or unlawful activities that are noticeable with concrete proof," the archbishop had said.
