Karnataka’s Seers Are Against a Move to Repeal Anti-Conversion and Cow Slaughter Laws
The Karnataka government’s plan to abolish the cow slaughter prevention Act and the anti-conversion legislation has been vehemently challenged by the heads of several mutts in the Dakshina Kannada district.
According to Gurudevananda Swami of the Odiyuru Mutt, who spoke to media here on Friday, the gathering of the seers denounced recent remarks made by certain ministers over the proposal to revoke the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act and change the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act.
To avoid causing societal disturbance in Dakshina Kannada and other Karnataka districts, the seers urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to abandon any plans to amend the Acts.
Gurudevananda Swami referred to the action as “anti-Hindu,” saying that the government should not offend Hindus. In case the government goes through with the plan, he also warned that the seers would embark on a hunger strike.
The Governor, Chief Minister, and Deputy Chief Minister will receive a note from the seers requesting that they not abolish the laws.
If the anti-conversion statute is repealed or revisions are made to the Cow Slaughter Act, the head of the Vajradehi Mutt, Rajashekarananda Swami, has said that they would also pursue legal action.
Additionally, he urged the police to refrain from persecuting Hindu activists by reviving past instances of “moral policing” with the aid of the force’s new anti-communal branch.
The conference was attended by the leaders of 10 mutts in the Dakshina Kannada district.
A measure to remove the anti-conversion statute will be introduced by the state administration during the next legislative session, which begins on July 3.
