'Hurried laws leading to attacks on Dalits, minorities'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A few days after a group of activists from Bahutva Kar nataka released a series of report cards on the performance of the Bommai government in the education and health sector, which it claimed the government had miserably failed in, the group has now released a report on laws passed without due consultations.

The report claims that the state government passed some key laws without due consultation but through the ordinance, a route meant for emergencies. Activists say these laws affect food security, make practising ag riculture much more difficult, weaken workers’ rights and lead to attacks on Dalits and minorities.

Some of the key laws passed are the Karnataka Land Reforms Amendment Act of 2020, the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter, and the Preservation of Cattle Act of 2021. The Karnataka Land Reforms Amendment Act, 2020, according to the report, is bad for the state, as it allows non-farmers, including corporates to buy farmland.

Talking about the second law in the report, the activists noted that it makes it illegal to buy, sell, transport, and slaughter cattle. It also makes it difficult for farmers to rear cattle; affects livelihoods of small traders in meat and leather trade and encourages the harassment of sections of Dalit and Muslims dependent on cattle for their livelihood.

The other laws that the report noted are the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) Amendment Act, 2020, Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Act, 2021, Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, Factories Karnataka Amendment Act, 2023.