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Opposition BSP and Congress on Wednesday sought to corner the Centre over the reported conversion of about 100 Muslims to Hinduism in Agra, saying changing religion by force and by allurement is illegal. The Centre, however, washed its hands of the issue, saying law and order is a state subject.
About 100 people, mostly Muslim slum dwellers, were re-converted and “brought back” to the Hindu fold after a ritual that included the tying of sacred threads on their wrists and putting vermilion mark on their foreheads at Devnagar locality in Agra. Raising the issue, Mayawati of the BSP said: “This is a serious matter as allurement was given to poor to get them converted.” She added that a similar exercise is planned in Aligarh by the month-end, where Christians will be converted to Hinduism.
The Constitution, she said, guarantees religious freedom and it is the responsibility of both the Centre and state government to ensure the safety of life, property and religion of all.
Forced conversions should be stopped, she demanded as members from the Congress, Left, TMC and SP joined her.
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the Chairman has admitted 15 Zero Hour notices.
“What can I do if all of you stand up and shout. There are Zero Hour notices with me, what do I do?” he said as Opposition members shouted “ Pradhan Mantri, jawab do (Prime Minister, give a reply)”.
Anand Sharma (Congress) said the government should be directed to give a clarification on the issue. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said: “The RSS has said that after 90 years they have their government in (Delhi). They say they will covert the nation into a Hindu nation. People were misled, the government must make a statement.”
FIR filed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said an FIR has been filed by the Uttar Pradesh government on the issue.
“Action has to be taken by the State Government. Law and order is a state issue and the State Government has to deal with it. The Centre has no role in that,” he said.
He objected to the RSS name being mentioned in the case, saying it is not appropriate to take the name of the organisation for “political reasons” and the Chair should expunge the same.
On Wednesday, the Sadar Bazaar police in Agra filed an FIR against the Dharma Jagran Manch and its UP convener Kishore.
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