Communal unrest will arise in Karnataka if anti-conversion law is tabled : Archbishop Reverend Peter Machado

Archbishop of Bengaluru opposes Karnataka Government’s proposed anti-conversion law

Editorial Comment

• The Government should firmly state that due to the conversion of Hindus for the last several decades, a chaotic situation has arisen in the country and such a law is essential to combat the chaos in the country.
• By the anti-conversion laws, the mala fide intention of Christians is going to be defeated; so the Archbishop’s worry is reflected.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai recently announced an anti-conversion law in the State. The Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado wrote a letter to the Chief Minister opposing it. He wrote that this law will be discriminatory and due to it the minority rights will be violated, as well as peace and unity will be disturbed in the State. There might be a chaotic situation in the State. Therefore, tabling such a law is unnecessary.

We Christians are a little worried about the Anti-Conversion Bill. You can’t compare Karnataka with other states. We should be doing something which other states haven’t done and bring credit to Karnataka: Peter Machado, Archbishop, Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/62IbpAqAKI

— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2021

In this letter, Archbishop Machado, referring to Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, said that these articles provide religious freedom to all.

Archbishop Machado has also opposed the Government’s decision to survey Christian missionaries and Churches. He said that the information has already been collected by the Government at the time of the census; so there is no need to collect information again.