It is heartening to note that the Archbishop of Bangalore, Peter Machado, has spoken up against the controversial anti-conversion bill being tabled by the Karnataka government. The Bill seeks to conduct a survey of both offcial and non-official Christian missionaries, institutions and establishments functioning in Karnataka. It's strange to note the fear of the state government and the fanatics from a minuscule Christian minority, not just in Karnataka but in the rest of the country as well. It would be interesting to know how many of the highly educated people who have passed out through the portals of Christian educational institutions in our country, have got converted to Christianity. The answer certainly, would be nil!
Minorities in Karnataka as well as in the rest of the country have been living in harmony with each other. This Bill could be used to instill fear among the minorities and create unnecessary doubts in the minds of the majority community. Needless to say, such anti-conversion bills must be consigned to the dustbin. India is a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-lingual country and it would be in everyone's interests to keep it that way. Unity in diversity is the hallmark of our nation.
