Karnataka: Former CM Yediyurappa Urges Mutts To Promote Hinduism, Says State And Society Should Work In Tandem To Prevent Religion Conversions

Urging mutts and the Dharmic organisation to initiate steps to bring back those who have left the fold of Hinduism, senior BJP leader and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa said that laws alone could not prevent religious conversion.

Addressing a massive gathering after inaugurating the newly-constructed building complex and car festival organised as part of Suttur Jatra Mahotsav at Suttur near Mysuru, he asked the religious heads to champion the cause of Hinduism.

"Religious mutts should work to bring Dalit communities, disabled and homeless into the mainstream of the society. Conversion efforts are on a rise in India. Society should be cautious and put an end to it. Proper guidance should be given to those who are converted to other faiths and bring them back," Yediyurappa said.

Yediyurappa said many people become vulnerable to religious conversion due to a combination of factors, including allurement, threat, poverty or socio-political reasons.

In May 2022, the BJP government promulgated the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2022, which prohibits forced religious conversions. The act prohibits forced religious conversions through misrepresentation, coercion, allurement, fraud, or the promise of marriage. Any person who converts another person unlawfully will be penalised, and all offences will be cognisable and non-bailable.

The former CM lauded the contributions of Suttur Mutt in the areas of mass feeding, promotion of education, health, rural development and alleviation of poverty.

"The mutts are offering education, food and health services. They are serving the people, especially in rural areas, supplementing the government efforts. The pontiffs should take the responsibility of reforming the society," he added.

The former CM pointed out that during his tenure, a scheme was introduced to provide grants to mutts to encourage such activities, and successive governments are continuing these schemes.

During Yediyurappa's term as chief minister, various Hindu mutts across the state received generous budgetary grants to help them introduce schemes to help poor and marginalised members of their community.

State urban development minister Byrathi Basavaraju, Suttur Mutt seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami and Purushottamananda Swami from Bhagiratha Uppara gurupeeth were present during the occasion.

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, scion of the Mysuru royalty, also participated in the event. Recalling the long association between the royal family and Suttur Mutt, he praised the Suttur Mutt for various welfare programs in education, health and agriculture.

Over 1000 years old and an influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat centre located in south Mysuru, Suttur Mutt established the Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Mahavidyapeetha (JSS Mahavidyapeetha). JSS runs more than 300 educational institutions in Karnataka, parts of India and abroad.

Mutts play a pivotal role in the socio-economic life of Karnataka. Over 80 per cent of Karnataka's population is believed to be directly or indirectly associated with the mutts spread over all 30 districts.