Karnataka minorities unite ahead of Winter Session, press for repeal of two laws

The Congress government in Karnataka is facing growing pressure from Muslim and Christian communities to act on its stated commitment to withdraw two laws — the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, and the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022 — with community leaders describing the Legislature's Winter Session in December as their last realistic window.

The 2020 Act regulates the slaughter and preservation of cattle. The 2022 Act deals with religious conversion brought about by force, fraud, inducement or marriage. Critics refer to them as the anti-cow slaughter and anti-conversion laws; their supporters say they protect cattle and prevent coerced conversions. Both were enacted during the previous BJP government, and the Congress had indicated after coming to power in 2023 that it would review them.

Representatives of the two communities say they have waited more than two years for action. Beyond the repeal of the two laws, Muslim organisations want clarity on reservation for the community under the 2B category and are seeking an increase from 4% to 8% on the basis of population. Christian organisations have asked for a separate 1% reservation within the OBC matrix. Both communities also want the government to state its position on the proposed hate speech legislation.

According to community leaders and officials, the process of withdrawing or amending the two laws was initiated in the early months of the present government's term, but the government stepped back after Hindu mutt seers collectively opposed any such move. The seers' specific objections have not been set out in detail in public statements since.

Community leaders have met Congress legislators and senior party leaders separately on several occasions, and are now planning a coordinated campaign. “We have waited over three years for the government to act. The community has become restive at the inaction. What is the difference between the Congress and BJP governments, if it continues with the same legislations? Muslims suffered under the BJP and incidents of attack on Christians continue even now,” said Shabeer Ahmed, a member of the steering committee of the Karnataka Rajya Muslim Okkoota (KRMO). “The Winter Session would be the last possible window for the government to withdraw the legislation, and the two communities are working together.”

In May, after the KRMO announced a Muslim convention and released a document titled “Promises of Congress Government, Gaps in Delivery and Charter of Demands”, the state government withdrew the ban on Muslim girls wearing the hijab in educational institutions. The BJP government had imposed that ban in 2022. The convention was viewed in party circles as an embarrassment that damaged the government's image.

J.A. Kanthraj, spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, confirmed that the two communities were coordinating their efforts. “Both communities are coming together in a big way across the State. Joint strategies have been drawn for certain programmes to create awareness within communities and to take our demand to a logical end. Plans are afoot to hold a massive joint protest in November. Joint protests will also be held in district centres,” he said.

The government has not announced a formal decision. One Cabinet Minister said the government could now move on the two legislations, since the Congress has only recently attained a majority in the Legislative Council. Another senior Minister said the matter was still being “mulled over”, and that the government would abide by the Supreme Court's ruling on hate speech, in which the court held that existing provisions were adequate to address it.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has not cleared the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, passed by both Houses of the legislature, citing the view that the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are adequate. This followed the Governor referring the Bill to the President.

Asked whether there was any pressure against action on the anti-cow slaughter and anti-conversion laws, the Minister said: “There is no pressure on us. The Law Department will take a call on it.”

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Minority Affairs, Haj and Wakf U.T. Khader said: “There is a demand to do it. The government is new. It is aware of the issue and is positively thinking about it.”

With the Winter Session approaching, community leaders say they intend to keep up the joint pressure. Any decision on the two laws will now rest with the Law Department and the Cabinet, which have not indicated a timeline.