The Karnataka Congress government has announced plans to repeal amendments made to the state's anti-conversion legislation by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration, setting the stage for a sharp political clash in the upcoming Winter Session of the Karnataka State Legislature, scheduled for December 2026. The announcement was made in Bengaluru on Thursday, 12 November 2026.

What the Congress Has Proposed

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and Member of the Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad made the declaration at a press conference, stating that the ruling Congress government would restore the earlier legal position that existed before the BJP's amendments. He claimed the BJP had introduced what he described as 'draconian and stringent provisions' with the stated intent of harassing religious minorities.

'We will repeal the Anti-Conversion Bill in Karnataka during the upcoming Winter Session. We will restore the earlier status quo. The government will fulfil the aspirations of the people. The BJP had amended the Bill with the intention of harassing minorities,' Hariprasad said at the press conference.

BJP's Counter: Protecting Voluntary Conversion, Not Enabling Force

The announcement drew an immediate and sharp response from the opposition. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, pushed back against the Congress framing, insisting that the BJP's legislation did not impede voluntary religious conversion but was specifically designed to prohibit conversions through force, coercion, or financial inducement.

'There should not be any pressure on people who want to convert to another religion. If a person wishes to embrace another religion voluntarily, it is their right. They can submit the necessary documents through the Deputy Commissioner and convert to any religion. Our Constitution allows this,' he said. However, Narayanaswamy made clear that the BJP would mount strong opposition to any repeal, warning: 'If the government withdraws this law, it would mean that it is allowing other religions to forcibly convert people.'

Responding to demands by minority organisations for withdrawal of both the anti-conversion law and the cow slaughter ban, Narayanaswamy alleged those demands were motivated by a desire to facilitate forced conversions and continue cow slaughter — a claim that minority groups have not publicly responded to as of this report.

What the 2022 Law Actually Says

The legislation at the centre of the dispute is the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, introduced by the then-BJP government led by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The law prohibits conversions achieved through misrepresentation, force, coercion, undue influence, allurement, fraudulent means, or marriage.

Notably, the Act explicitly exempts reconversion to a person's 'immediate previous religion' from the definition of conversion — a provision that critics argue effectively privileges reconversion to Hinduism. The legislation also mandates a detailed procedural framework: a person intending to convert must submit a declaration to the District Magistrate at least 30 days in advance, the officiant must give prior notice, and the convert must subsequently appear before the magistrate for identity and intent verification. The District Magistrate is empowered to invite public objections and order a police enquiry.

Penalties Under the Act

The law prescribes graduated penalties. Standard unlawful conversion carries imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of ₹25,000. Where conversions involve minors, women, members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, or persons of unsound mind, the punishment rises to three to ten years with a fine of up to ₹50,000. Mass conversions involving two or more persons attract three to ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh. Repeat offenders face a minimum of five years and fines up to ₹2 lakh. All offences under the Act are cognisable and non-bailable.

What Comes Next

With the Congress formally signalling its intent and the BJP vowing organised resistance, the Winter Session is likely to become a major political flashpoint in Karnataka. The debate taps into one of the most contested fault lines in Indian politics — the boundary between protecting voluntary religious freedom and curbing what proponents of such laws call 'fraudulent' conversion. The issue is expected to generate wider national attention, particularly given its implications for minority community rights and the BJP's electoral messaging ahead of future state elections.