Law against "love jihad" during next session: Karnataka CM

Bengaluru:  The Karnataka government on Monday made it clear that a law against "love jihad" will be taken up only in the next Assembly session, while anti-cow slaughter bill will be introduced during the ongoing winter session of the Karnataka legislature.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that Anti-cow slaughter bill was tabled earlier (previous tenure), but it was not given assent.

He added that "I have asked the Law Minister to table it once again.. it will be tabled by tomorrow or the day after and we will get it approved,",reports PTI

Speaking to reporters at Sagara, he clarified that "We will not be tabling a bill on Love Jihad in this session," at the same time "Anti-cow slaughter, we will do it now.", he added.

The BJP's Karnataka state executive on Saturday had adopted resolutions for the passage and implementation of the two legislations.

Stating that it has been decided at the government level to enact anti-cow slaughter legislation during this session, Revenue Minister R Ashoka too said, the bill against "love jihad" will be taken up during the next session.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Cow is worshiped as god by farmers..there is a special place for cows in Indian culture, so to stop its killing we are beginning this law in Karnataka.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said that the state will have a law against "love jihad", and officials have been directed to gather information on an ordinance promulgated in Uttar Pradesh in this regard.

Uttar Pradesh had recently promulgated an ordinance against forcible or fraudulent religious conversions, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and fine of up to Rs 50,000 under different categories.

Regarding the anti-cow slaughter legislation, a team of officials led by Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan had recently visited Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, where the law has been enacted, to study about its implementation, aimed at strengthening the bill to be introduced here during the winter session that began today.

Chavan today said he and his team have gathered information on implementation of anti-cow slaughter law in UP and Gujarat, and after discussion with CM and cabinet colleagues the bill will be introduced during this session.

The BJP in its manifesto ahead of the 2018 assembly election had promised prohibition of cow slaughter.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah has said that the Congress will oppose if the government tries to bring in legislation against "love jihad" and cow slaughter.

BJP-ruled states of Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Assam have made it clear that passing the Bills against 'love jihad' is one of their top priorities.