Textbook revisions to conversion, will review all regressive moves by BJP govt: Priyank Kharge

The Congress MLA said: “Textbook revision, anti-conversion law, anti-cow slaughter law and all the other laws introduced by the BJP will be reviewed by the Congress government. The decision will be taken to protect the economic prosperity of the state and the interests of the Kannadigas.”

The Govt stands firm on reviewing any bill passed by the previous BJP Govt that:
-affects the image of state
-deters investment
-does not create employment
-is unconstitutional
-violates rights of an individual

We want to build an economically & socially equal Karnataka

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) May 24, 2023

On Monday, the new government had decided to halt payments for BJP-sanctioned projects.

The controversial school textbook revisions implemented by the former school education minister BC Nagesh had sparked accusations of “saffronisation” from Congress leaders and academicians.

Academicians and educational experts have written to Chief Minister Siddaramiah about this. One of them, VP Niranjanaradhya, has sought legal action against panel members including its controversial head Rohith Chakrathirtha.
Associated Managements of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) president D Shashikumar has also written to Siddaramiah, asking him to withhold the changed text from the course for the current academic year.

The BJP had also passed The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020. It carries stringent punishments for violations and provides for powers to search and seize any premise.

The anti-conversion law came into force from May 2022. It says: “No person shall convert or attempt to convert either directly or otherwise any other person from one religion to another by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage, nor shall any person abet or conspire for conversions”.

According to the law, complaints of conversions can be filed by family members of a person who is getting converted, or any other person who is related to the person who is getting converted or even a colleague of the person who is getting converted. Punishment includes a jail term of up to 10 years.

On Wednesday, Kharge tweeted: “The Govt stands firm on reviewing any bill passed by the previous BJP Govt that affects the image of the state, deters investment, does not create employment, is unconstitutional, violates rights of an individual. We want to build an economically & socially equal Karnataka.”