Seers in Karnataka Oppose Move to Repeal Anti-conversion, Cow Slaughter Laws

The heads of various converts in Dakshina Kannada district strongly opposed the Karnataka government’s decision to repeal the Anti-conversion Act and the Anti-Cow Slaughter Act.

The Seekers’ Meeting condemned the recent statements of some ministers on the move to withdraw the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act and to amend the Karnataka Act to Prevent Slaughter and Preserve Livestock, Gurudevananda Swamy of Odiuru Mott told reporters here on Friday.

The seers called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar not to go ahead with any move to change the laws as it would lead to social unrest in Dakshina Kannada and other areas of Karnataka.

Gurudevananda Swamy called the move “anti-Hindu”, and said that the government should not hurt the feelings of Hindus. He also threatened that fortune-tellers would go on a hunger strike if the government went ahead with this step.

The diviners will raise a memorandum to the governor, prime minister and deputy prime minister urging them not to repeal the laws.

They will also take a legal course if the anti-conversion law is scrapped or changes are made to the cow slaughter law, said Rajashikarananda Swamy, president of Vajradehi Mott.

He also asked the police not to harm Hindu activists by raising old issues of “moral policing” using the new anti-caste wing of the force.

The meeting was attended by heads of 10 MTS in Dakshina Kannada district.

The state government said in June it would introduce a bill to repeal the anti-conversion law in the legislature session beginning July 3.

(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)