NEW DELHI: India’s ruling party chief yesterday called for a law to ban “forced religious conversions” amid increasing uproar over the right-wing government’s perceived pro-Hindu tilt.
The parliament has been paralysed by opposition lawmakers protesting mass conversions to Hinduism which is the country’s majority religion. They have demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power, make a statement on reports of poor Muslims being coerced into converting.
“The BJP is against forced conversions and that is why we want to bring in a law,” the party’s leader Amit Shah was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying. “So-called secular parties should support BJP’s move,” Shah added.
“Forced conversion” is a phrase used in India to cover a wide range of methods of gaining religious converts from offers of free food and education to threats and violence.
A hardline group linked to the BJP was accused of converting some 50 slum-dwelling Muslim families about a week ago in the Taj Mahal city of Agra. One of the converts said they were promised ration cards and other financial incentives if they converted.
A BJP lawmaker subsequently announced plans for an even bigger Hindu conversion event of Christians and Muslims on Christmas Day in the northern town of Aligarh. It was later called off by Hindu groups.
Critics say Hindu hardline groups have become more emboldened since the BJP was elected, stoking religious tensions. Modi has made no public comment on religious issues since becoming premier. Alongside the 80 percent Hindu majority, Muslims make up 13.4 percent of India’s 1.2 billion population, with Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and other religions accounting for the rest.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Praveen Togadia yesterday pressed for an anti-conversion law. Addressing a mass meet in Kolkata organised as part of the VHP’s golden jubilee celebrations, Togadia also attacked the Mamata Banerjee government for trying to woo the minorities at the cost of Hindus, and called for getting rid of Bangladeshi infiltrators.
“Those who are stalling parliament over the Agra issue are anti-nationals and anti-Hindus. If they are so much against conversion then why isn’t an anti-conversion law being passed,” said Togadia.
Targeting Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, Togadia said: “Mulayamji you are known for taking anti-national stand, but if you endeavour for an anti-conversion law we will support you”.
While he dubbed Bangladeshi infiltrators as a security threat, Togadia demanded Indian citizenship for Bangladeshi Hindus who have been persecuted and driven out from the neighbouring country. “There is an urgent need to drive away these Bangladeshi infiltrators whose number has gone past three crore now,” he said and asked Mamata Banerjee not to discriminate against Hindus.
Speaking on the same lines, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat too called for an anti-conversion law. “Everybody is now talking about conversion. If everybody is so much opposed to it then why is not a law passed to this effect,” Bhagwat said and called on Hindus to unite for the sake of the country. Agencies
