States » SouthPosted at: Oct 30 2026 2:14PM


Machado challenges Cong to repeal anti-conversion law in Belagavi session

Bengaluru, Oct 30 (UNI) Archbishop of Bangalore Peter Machado on Friday mounted pressure on the Siddaramaiah government to fulfil its election promise of repealing the anti-conversion law, challenging it to withdraw the legislation during the forthcoming Belagavi winter session or risk eroding the Congress party's credibility among minority communities.
Rejecting the government's reported willingness to amend certain provisions instead of scrapping the law enacted by the previous BJP government in 2022, Machado said Christians were not satisfied with any halfway measure and wanted its complete repeal.
The Congress had promised in its election manifesto to withdraw the legislation immediately after coming to power. However, more than three years later, the commitment remained unfulfilled, he said, expressing disappointment over the delay.
"Now, as far as I know, from last July, they have sufficient numbers. So therefore, nothing debars them in this session, the winter session that is going to be held in Belagavi, to withdraw it," he said at a joint press conference of minority, Dalit and farmer communities here.
Machado dismissed the possibility of accepting amendments that would merely reduce the severity of the law, including its penal provisions.
"It's like leaving a snake in a room with the teeth removed, but the snake is still a frightening thing for us. Remove it totally and show that you are a Congress Government, a Government with a difference," he said.
He argued that retaining portions of the legislation while modifying others would defeat the purpose of the demand for repeal.
Warning of political consequences, the Archbishop said the failure to honour the manifesto commitment could undermine the trust of Christians and Muslims in the Congress.
"If they are denied these rights, I don't think in future people will trust Congress for their promises," he said.
Clarifying that the demand was not driven by electoral considerations, Machado said he had been raising the issue consistently over the past three years and was not waiting for the next Assembly elections.
The press conference also called for effective implementation of the proposed hate speech legislation to protect minorities and Dalits against communally provocative statements.
On the anti-cow slaughter law, Machado said its impact extended beyond Muslims to farmers and Dalits, particularly those struggling to maintain ageing and unproductive cattle. He called for its repeal, arguing that maintaining such animals in gaushalas was not a feasible solution everywhere.
The Archbishop said Christians, Muslims, Dalits, farmers, writers and several NGOs were united in raising these concerns.
On allegations that minorities had been disproportionately affected by recent electoral roll revisions, he said he could not independently verify the claims but urged the government to help eligible voters left out of the rolls to complete the necessary formalities and secure their inclusion.
UNI BDN
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