Bill in Karnataka assembly to protect unauthorised religious structures

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday tabled the Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Bill, 2021, in the State Assembly seeking to protect religious structures already constructed illegally in public places.

The move comes just a week after demolition of a temple at Nanjangud in Mysuru which drew criticism from within the ruling BJP and various other Hindu groups.

The Bill states, 'it is necessary to provide protection to religious constructions in public places constructed before the date of commencement of this Act. This is done in order to protect communal harmony and not to hurt the religious sentiments of the public.'

Interestingly, the bill also directs authorities not to allow any religious structure and its construction in public places in future.