The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is set to stage a protest in Bengaluru against the Congress government’s recent decision to repeal the state’s anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP regime. The VHP has called on all Hindus to participate in the protest, which will take place at the Freedom Park in the evening.
The organization has also instructed all district units to stage peaceful protests across the state. Prof M.B. Puranik, Working President of the VHP, has accused the Congress government of betraying the Hindus who helped them come to power. He emphasized that it is the duty of every member of the Hindu religion to save Hindus from religious conversion.
The Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Deputy Chief Minister had promised to repeal all the acts enacted by the BJP government once the party comes to power in the state, including the anti-conversion law. The amendment will be taken up in the Assembly session scheduled to be held in July.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has explained that the government will repeal the changes made to the law by the previous government. It will then introduce the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2023, which will cancel the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021.
The VHP’s protest comes in response to the Congress government’s move to repeal the anti-conversion law. The BJP had implemented stringent conditions on religious conversions and prescribed stringent punishment for the offense. The VHP believes that the decision to repeal this law will enable forceful religious conversions of Hindus, which they condemn.
The VHP voiced their hope that the government will stop taking anti-people measures and steps to disturb peace in society and not remove texts of national leaders like Veer Savarkar to appease minorities. They stress that India is a Hindu country, and it is the right of every religion to practice its own customs and beliefs. However, they strongly oppose coercion of Hindus for forceful religious conversions.
