Brinda Karat urges PM to speak out against religious conversions

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out against the ongoing religious conversions and accused the actions of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as having serious implications on the nation.

"The actions of the RSS have serious implications on this country and that is why the Prime Minister should speak out against these totally unconstitutional statements and steps," Karat told ANI here.

"There is nothing new in what RSS is saying about 'Hindu Rashtra' since the time of independence. The difference today is that these RSS leaders now have direct access to the state power, for the first time RSS has its own 'pracharak' as the Prime Minister," she added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader P.L. Punia said that the RSS is hurting both the nation and the society by raking up the issue of 'Hindu Rashtra'.

"The RSS and other related organizations are polarizing the society for the elections. Our Constitution gives us right to practice any religion we want. By talking about a 'Hindu Rashtra', the RSS is damaging the nation and the society," Punia said

According to reports, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday converted about 200 tribal Christians into Hinduism at Aranai village in Gujarat's Valsad district.

Earlier this month, around 200 people were reportedly converted to Hinduism in a ceremony in Agra by groups linked to the BJP's ideological mentor RSS.