Karnataka KPCC president BK Hariprasad has said the Congress government will restore the state’s anti-conversion law to its pre-2022 form, signalling a possible rollback of amendments introduced by the previous BJP government. The state government, however, has not yet made a formal public announcement on the decision.
Hariprasad made the statement on Thursday while responding to criticism from Dalit and minority groups, who accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its 2023 Assembly election promise to withdraw the amended legislation. “We will fulfil the commitment made by the party. We will bring back the pre-2022 anti-conversion law,” he said.
The legislation, formally known as the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, has faced sustained opposition from minority organisations since its introduction. Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado and several community forums have sought its repeal, arguing that it affects religious freedom.
The latest demand came from the Archdiocese of Bangalore and the Karnataka Rajya Muslim Okkoota, whose representatives issued a joint statement on October 30 calling for the law to be revoked. On Thursday, Muslim and Christian community members also held a demonstration at Freedom Park in Bengaluru under the banner ‘Voice of Minorities and the Oppressed Sections of Karnataka’.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s Office, reminding the government of the Congress’s 2023 election promise to withdraw laws introduced by the previous BJP government, protect minority rights and restore social justice measures. The memorandum said that more than three years after the present government assumed office, several commitments remained unfulfilled, including repeal of the Freedom of Religion Act, restoration of 2B reservation for Muslims, action against hate speech and crimes, and repeal of the cattle slaughter legislation.
The proposed restoration has also drawn opposition. The Vishva Hindu Parishad has urged Chief Minister DK Shivakumar not to withdraw the anti-conversion legislation. The competing demands place the state government between minority groups seeking repeal and Hindu organisations calling for the law to remain in force.
Hariprasad said the Congress was not founded on caste or religion and represented the entire country. He also said the party would listen to different views. His comments came amid a wider political dispute over the government’s handling of its election commitments and legislation affecting religious and community rights.
The immediate administrative process for restoring the pre-2022 position remains unclear. The state government has yet to publicly announce whether it will repeal the amended law, amend the existing legislation or introduce a separate legislative measure. Any formal move will depend on an official government decision and the procedure required in the state legislature.
