New Delhi: Under attack over religious conversions in Agra, Bharatiya Janata Party has put the onus on the Opposition to support an anti-conversion bill.
A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat suggested that a law banning conversions should be supported by opposition parties if they were against religious conversions, BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday said that the government was opposed to forced conversions and it was up to the "secular parties" to decide on the matter.
"As far as conversions are concerned, our Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu has already said that government is opposed to it and could bring an anti-conversion law. Now it is up to the so-called secular parties, whether they want to stop forced conversions in the country or not," said Shah.
Despite the sharp criticism from political parties, Vishwa Hindu Parishad is not willing to make any changes in its 'ghar wapsi' programme.
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain too supported his party chief's views saying, "If the Opposition supports this, they should support the bill and not create a ruckus in Parliament."
The Congress, meanwhile, said that it will support an anti-conversion bill if the BJP keeps a check on VHP and Bajrang Dal. "Personally I have no problem on an anti-conversion law because VHP and Bajrang Dal are doing just that. Conversion by force and inducement," the Congress leader tweeted.
Another Congress leader, Rashid Alvi said, "RSS and BJP did not contribute to India's freedom, they don't know the value of freedom, that is why they are doing such things which will destroy the nation."
Despite the sharp criticism from political parties, Vishwa Hindu Parishad is not willing to make any changes in its 'ghar wapsi' programme. VHP chief Ashok Singhal said, "We have a government today which is committed to protect Hinduism. We are striving to revive Hinduism in country."
VHP claims to have re-converted over 200 tribal Christians to Hinduism in Gujarat's Valsad on Saturday.
BJP ally Shiv Sena, though did not voice its support to conversion to Hinduism and instead said that the opposition parties have to make sure that not one Hindu is forcibly converted to any other religion. "If you stop Hindus from converting, you ought to make sure that Hindus are also not converted," said Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut.
Strongly defending the current controversial campaign of the Sangh Parivar, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat dared the opposition to support a law banning religious conversions. He also asked the other minorities not to convert Hindus if they also do not want to come back to Hinduism.
"We are trying to create a strong Hindu society. Those who have strayed, they have not gone on their own. They have been allured and have been forcibly taken away. When the thief is being caught and my property has been recovered, when I am taking back my own property, what is new in it?" Bhagwat said at a Hindu sammelan on Saturday.
"If you don't like it (re-conversion to Hinduism), then bring a law against it. You don't want to bring it. If you don't want to change into a Hindu, then you should not convert Hindus too. We are firm in our position," he said.
Bhagwat's comments assume significance in the context of Sangh Parivar outfits carrying out 'ghar wapsi' (return to Hindu fold) programme in parts of North India and the Rajya Sabha stalled over the issue with the opposition demanding
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the issue.
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