New Delhi:
Days after Maharashtra promulgated the anti-black magic and superstition ordinance, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said his government too will enact a law against practitioners of black magic, blind faith and superstition.
"We will study the proposed Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill prepared by Maharashtra government and bring it in Karnataka too", Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters in Delhi.
Karnataka government's decision comes a week after the killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune.
Mr Siddaramaiah said there was a necessity to ban practitioners of black magic and those who practice inhuman rituals have been exploiting the people in the name of religious faith.
In Maharashtra, Mr Dabholkar had drafted the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Bill over a decade ago but it repeatedly failed to get through the state legislature.
The Bill had proposed that those indulging in black magic or preying on peoples' superstitions be jailed for up to seven years. The bill also sought to ban a range of practices including black magic, animal sacrifice and "magical" remedies to cure ailments.
Taking a strong position against a controversial ritual "made snana", which is performed in several temples in the state, the chief minister said such practices should be banned.
"Made snana" refers to devotees rolling over plantain leaves containing leftovers of the food served to Brahmins.