Setting the stage for clearance of the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, the Legislative Council on Thursday passed the controversial legislation by voice vote amidst vociferous protest and walkout from Congress members.
High drama prevailed before the passage of the Bill, popularly called the anti-conversion Bill, as the ruling BJP and Opposition members sparred while some key questions asked by the Congress went unanswered. Despite repeated questions on the number of cases registered since the Ordinance was promulgated in May, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra did not answer.
While Congress members were on their feet with doubts yet to be clarified by the treasury benches, Chairman Raghunath Rao Malkapure put the Bill to vote, enraging the Congress members. As the Bill was being cleared with the BJP having majority in the Upper House, several Congress members, including Leader of the Opposition B.K. Hariprasad, raised slogans and tore copies of the Bill before walking out of the House.
