Bengaluru: The state government on Friday sought to clear the air on the subject of anti-conversion law, saying the law would only be rid of some “defects” introduced by the previous BJP regime.

Karnataka’s energy minister KJ George told media in Chikkmagaluru that the law was riddled with defects, and the state government would amend it to restore its earlier character. The law, he said, always existed and prohibited forceful conversion with inducement. But the BJP regime introduced sections like the accused should give evidence, and such clauses were being removed.

The minister wondered if the BJP achieved anything by bringing the law and if any cases had been filed under it. A law, that was equal to all, would be implemented and the BJP was opposing it for the sake of opposition, he said.

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to repeal the anti-conversion law regulating religious conversion introduced by the previous BJP government. The Congress had promised to revoke this law if voted to power.

The Congress, while in opposition, had resisted the BJP government’s amendments to the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022.

The law prohibited conversion by misrepresentation, force, allurement, fraudulent means, or marriage. Violators were to be punished with imprisonment of up to three to five years and a fine of up to ‘25,000. However, in cases of offences against minors, women, SC/ST, the offenders would face imprisonment from three to ten years and a fine of at least Rs 50,000.