Bengaluru, March 18 (NationPress) The Congress government of Karnataka is set to present the “Iva Nammava Iva Nammava” (meaning “He is ours, he is ours”) Bill in the Assembly this Wednesday. This legislation is designed to combat “honour killings” and the violence that stems from caste-based opposition to inter-caste and inter-community marriages.

This initiative comes in response to a surge in violent incidents associated with inter-caste unions, notably the tragic murder of a pregnant woman, Manya Patil, who was killed by her father and relatives in Hubballi due to her marriage to a man from the Scheduled Caste.

The proposed law ensures the rights of consenting adults to marry freely, providing safeguards against coercion from family or community. Offenders will face severe penalties, including a minimum of five years in prison.

The Bill will be introduced in the Legislative Assembly by State Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, H.K. Patil.

Named after a 12th-century Kannada vachana by social reformer Basavanna, the bill promotes equality and denounces discrimination with its title, which means “He is ours, he is ours.”

It will also establish 24-hour helplines and safe houses for couples threatened by familial or societal pressures. The definition of “honour crimes” extends beyond murder to include physical violence, forced marriages or divorces, social ostracism, and the performance of “thithi” (death rituals) for living individuals.

Offenses categorized under this legislation will be cognizable and non-bailable, with severe consequences, including life imprisonment for particularly violent acts.

This law aims to empower individuals, especially those in inter-caste, inter-community, or inter-religious marriages, allowing them to choose their partners without the fear of violence.

It is important to recall that Manya Patil was brutally murdered in December 2025 in Hubballi taluk, allegedly by her father and relatives for marrying a Dalit. Police have apprehended her father and two accomplices in the case.

Manya, a Lingayat, had married Vivekananda, a Dalit. The couple, who fell in love while studying, got married on June 19, 2025, at a registrar’s office in Hubballi. Despite earlier threats of suicide if Vivekananda did not marry her, the couple eventually reached a compromise mediated by the police. They relocated to Haveri but returned to their village on December 8, 2025, hoping for acceptance as Manya was pregnant.

However, tensions flared again between the two families. Despite police intervention advising both sides to maintain peace, Manya’s father and relatives allegedly stormed into her home and murdered her.