Ahead of Belagavi session, heat on minorities

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As the ruling BJP in Karnataka gears up to table the controversial anti-conversion bill during the winter session of the state Assembly set to begin in Belagavi on Monday, two incidents –one in Kolar and the other in Belagavi itself-gave enough indications that the passage of the bill was not going to be an easy affair and the ramifications, if it was approved, would be felt across the state.

In the Kolar incident, rightwing activists set fire to Christian religious booklets alleging attempts at religious conversion by the church while in Belagavi, a man armed with a machete, was reportedly seen entering a church and chasing the priest. The police in Kolar said the Christian community was warned against distributing religious booklets and added that no member of any right-wing group has been arrested so far. A police officer said, “We have warned the Christians not to create communal problems while preaching their faith. The two groups have settled the dispute amicably.” Christians were going door-to-door when they were stopped and questioned by members of the right-wing group, who snatched the booklets and set them on fire.There has been a stepping up of such attacks on minorities since the BJP-led state government started mulling a bill to ban forcible religious conversions. In Belagavi, the incident was no less worrisome with CCTV footage showing the church intruder carrying the weapon, following Father Francis D’souza, who is the church incharge. On seeing him, the priest reportedly moved away but the intruder continued to follow him and then fled the scene. Following a police complaint, security has been provided to the church and an investigation is underway. The Opposition Congress has strongly opposed the move to introduce the anti-conversion bill with KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar alleging that the law would target Christians and adversally affect the flow of investment to the state.