Udupi: A delegation of religious heads has urged the Karnataka govt to repeal the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022 (commonly called the anti-conversion law), enacted by the previous BJP govt.The delegation, led by Indian Christian Federation state president Prashanth Jatanna, met chief minister DK Shivakumar, KPCC president BK Hariprasad and health minister UT Khader, and submitted a memorandum outlining various demands of the Christian community recently.The delegation comprised CSI Karnataka Southern Diocese Bishop Hemachandra Kumar, CSI Karnataka Central Diocese Bishop Vincent Vinod Kumar, CSI Karnataka Northern Diocese Bishop Martin Borgavi, Karnataka State Pentecostal Churches spokesperson Ravi Mani, Indian Christian Federation state vice-president Pradeep D’Mello and general secretary Peter Danti.Seeking repeal of the act, the delegation said organisations had staged a one-day hunger strike in Belagavi during the assembly session in protest against its enactment. Back then, political functionaries including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had assured them that the law would be withdrawn if Congress came to power.The delegation noted that more than three years after Congress govt assumed office, the act was yet to be repealed. It welcomed Hariprasad’s assurance that the issue will be taken up in the next assembly session and the act repealed.The delegation also thanked the govt for establishing the Karnataka Christian Community Development Corporation, but expressed concern that only Rs 85 crore had been released against the promised Rs 250 crore allocation. “We sought release of the remaining amount, stating that the delay was affecting poor members of the community and economically disadvantaged students,” said Jathanna.Another demand was for five acres of land in north Bengaluru, preferably near Yelahanka or Devanahalli, for a new cemetery. The delegation said existing Protestant cemeteries at Adugodi and Mysuru Road were almost full due to the growing population of the community.
