Verghese V Joseph –
Bengaluru: Archbishop Dr. Peter Machado, joined by Muslim religious leaders and representatives of Dalit, farmers’, human-rights and civil-society organisations, led a peace rally at Freedom Park on Thursday, urging the Karnataka government to fulfil commitments made during the 2023 Assembly elections.
The gathering, organised under the banner Voice of Minorities and the Oppressed Sections of Karnataka, submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking time-bound action on religious freedom, reservation, hate crime and cattle-trade concerns.
Besides Bengaluru Archbishop Dr. Peter Machado; Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, Most Rev. Bernard Blasius Moras and Auxiliary Bishop of Bangalore Most Rev. Fr Joseph Soosainathan, several other leading leaders from the church and other communities were present.
The rally framed its demands not as partisan politics but as a call to restore constitutional guarantees: freedom of conscience, equality, dignity, livelihood security and protection from intimidation. Organisers said the coalition represents Christians, Muslims, farmers, Dalits and other marginalised communities across the State.
A memorandum for action
The memorandum asked the government to repeal the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, restore the 2B reservation for eligible Muslim communities, act decisively against hate speech and hate crimes, and repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020. It also seeks stronger access for minorities, Dalits and other disadvantaged groups to welfare schemes, education, housing, scholarships and livelihood support.
Archbishop Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, has repeatedly argued that the anti-conversion law has created fear among Christian communities and called for its complete repeal. In October, he publicly urged the State to repeal the law and frame a comprehensive policy against divisive and hate-mongering speech.
Anti-conversion law at the centre
The central demand concerns the 2022 anti-conversion legislation, which organisers say exposes ordinary religious activity—prayer meetings, worship, charitable work and sharing beliefs—to allegations of unlawful conversion. The memorandum argues that provisions relating to marriage declarations and reporting to authorities interfere with privacy, personal autonomy and the right of consenting adults to choose a spouse.
The demand carries particular political weight because the Karnataka Cabinet had decided in June 2023 to repeal the Act, a decision welcomed at the time by Archbishop Machado. However, the memorandum says the legislative process was never completed, leaving communities in continuing uncertainty.
“We are asking the Government to translate its assurance into law,” the memorandum states, calling for repeal, withdrawal of cases filed under the Act, and protection for lawful religious gatherings and peaceful expression of faith.
Reservation and social justice
On reservation, the coalition seeks restoration of the earlier four per cent quota for eligible Muslim communities under Category 2B of Karnataka’s OBC classification. The Congress had promised before the 2023 election to restore the quota after the previous BJP government removed Muslims from the 2B category and redistributed the allocation.
The memorandum argues that reservation is a constitutional tool for addressing historical and structural disadvantage, and asks the government to pursue a legally sustainable restoration process without further delay. It says students and job seekers need clarity, particularly those dependent on public education and employment opportunities.
Hate speech and vigilantism
The rally also demanded effective enforcement against hate speech, communal incitement, threats and violence targeting minorities. It cited Supreme Court directions requiring police to act suo motu where offences relating to promoting enmity, outrage to religious feelings and public mischief are disclosed, regardless of the accused person’s religion.
Organisers further invoked the Supreme Court’s directions in Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India, which require preventive measures, prompt investigation, victim protection, compensation and accountability in cases of mob violence and vigilantism. The memorandum says these obligations apply with particular urgency to violence linked to cattle protection.
Cattle law and livelihoods
The final major demand is repeal of the cattle-slaughter legislation enacted in 2020. The memorandum says restrictions on sale, transport and slaughter have burdened farmers, traders, transport workers, meat-industry workers and others dependent on the cattle economy.
It argues that farmers should be able to recover value from unproductive cattle, while warning that a climate of suspicion around cattle transport can enable intimidation and vigilante violence. The coalition also links food choice, nutritional security and personal dignity to the wider constitutional debate.
A test for Karnataka
The peace rally presented the demands as a test of whether Karnataka’s government will move from electoral assurance to legislative and administrative delivery. Its memorandum asks for a definite, time-bound plan, including repeal of the anti-conversion and cattle laws, restoration of 2B reservation, withdrawal of cases under the Freedom of Religion Act, and enforceable protection against hate crimes and vigilantism.
For the organisers, the issue is larger than any single statute: it is whether Karnataka will protect the equal citizenship and dignity of religious minorities, Dalits, farmers and working communities. The rally ended with a collective appeal to the Chief Minister and the State government to act before further delay deepens insecurity among the communities it claims to represent.