The Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council has opposed the state government proposal to introduce an ‘Anti-Conversion Bill’ saying the move could precipitate “Uncontrolled Communal Conflagrations” in the state.

Since independence, there has been hardly any increase in the number of Christians and the Bill is all made out to suit the political agenda of some political parties, the Council said in a memorandum to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The council expressed its reservations over a survey of official and non-official Christian Missionaries ordered by the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department. “If a survey is to be conducted, we demand that all communities be surveyed as well,” the Council said.

“If the bill is passed in the Assembly and translated into a law, we fear that it will give way for large-scale uncontrolled communal conflagrations,” the Council said, adding such a bill will only cause “more harm than good”.