BJP, which ensured smooth passage Karnataka The Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 failed to clear the council’s hurdle in the Assembly on Thursday after Congress and JD(S) members objected to the introduction of the bill in the absence of several opposition members.
The ruling party, which does not have a majority on the council, had planned to introduce the bill at the eleventh hour after several members left for their hometowns, hoping to move through the controversial legislation.
The Congress, however, thwarted its plans in vehement protests, alleging that the government was using the absence of members to bulldoze the controversial bill without discussing it on the floor of the House. It also criticized the government’s “arrogance” in introducing the bill at the last minute, knowing full well that half of the members had left for their hometowns early.
In the end, the government agreed and decided to postpone the bill. Social Welfare Minister and Leader of the House Kota Srinivas Pujari announced that the government would take it up in the next session.
Earlier, high drama prevailed as Speaker Basavaraj Horatti adjourned the House for lunch and asked members to reassemble at 3 pm, indicating that the government would introduce the controversial bill. The meeting was adjourned sine die before lunch.
When there was no sign of re-assembly by 4 pm, Congress members led by the Leader of Opposition in the Council SR Patil entered the Speaker’s chamber and asked him to adjourn the House indefinitely. The Congress even accused the Speaker of deliberately delaying the post-lunch session so that the BJP could get a majority.
Later, the proceedings of the House resumed at 4:15 pm. The priest moved a proposal to bid farewell to the 17 retiring members. Congress members opposed the move, alleging that it was a tactic to kill some more time to ensure the return of BJP members, who had left the session early.
Outside, some leaders of both the BJP and the Congress were calling members going back to their respective constituencies and asking them to return to the House.
Later, the Chairman adjourned the House for five minutes and called a meeting of the Leaders of the House in his chamber. In the meeting, the opposition leaders gave the government two options – either to extend the session of the council for two days to discuss only the bill or move it to the next session.
When the House resumed, Horati asked Deputy Chairman MK Pranesh to preside over the proceedings. Later, Pujari announced that the Bill would not be taken up in this session.
The anti-conversion bill may not face many hurdles in the next session, given the BJP’s strength in the council, which will be reduced to 37, a simple majority after January 5, and is expected to get the support of independents. Lakhan Jarkiholi, who recently contested the MLC elections as a rebel BJP candidate.
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