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No conflict between BJP, RSS over conversions: Venkaiah Naidu
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said there was no conflict between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the issue of religious conversions.
The Union Minister says the government has nothing to do with reconversion row
Hyderabad: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said there was no conflict between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the issue of religious conversions.
He told reporters here that RSS chief Mohan Bahgwat only said people who were converted had got a right to be reconverted.
Naidu said the BJP, the Union government and Mahatma Gandhi all stated the same. “BJP president Amit Shah said if you are worried about conversion, let there be an anti-conversion law. Where is the conflict?” he asked.
Naidu reiterated that the Central government would not forcibly and unilaterally bring a law to ban conversions. He, however, said this would be done with broad consensus. He also made it clear that the government had nothing to do with conversions or reconversions.
“The government is not getting involved either in conversions or reconversions. The BJP has nothing to do with it.
Some individuals may take part because of their belief but one can’t find fault with the government of India,” he said.
The BJP leader claimed that conversions and reconversions were happening even before Independence and that there was nothing new in it.
He pointed out that Arya Samaj and Hindu Maha Sabha had launched ‘Shudhi’ programme on a large scale in Uttar Pradesh way back in 1923. Naidu said lakhs of people across the country were getting converted but Opposition parties were not worried about that. He quoted a newspaper report about 70 Hindus being converted to Christianity in Uttar Pradesh through inducements and allurements.
“Converting to a religion is people’s choice. The government has no role in this. I am only pointing out when there are allegation of allurements, you don’t talk about it. If Hindus are converted, you don’t feel there is an issue. If others are converted, you feel it is a big issue,” he said.
“If there is inducement, allurement or force for conversions or reconversions, then it is wrong and action has to be taken by the State government. If you feel State government laws are not effective, then there is a need for an
all-India law,” the Union Minister said.
