Vaidya says 'it's not conversion but re-conversion'

Amid the ongoing row over the alleged mass conversion of 200 people to Hinduism in a ceremony in Agra, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS) ideologue MG Vaidya said on Wednesday that it's not conversion but re-conversion of those who want to 'return' to their religion.

"It's just that the once who had gone away from their home are returning. It's not conversion, its re-conversion. All the Muslims and Christians staying here were earlier Hindus only, if they want to return to their religion they have the permission.

"There was a time when those who had left the Hindu religion and accepted another religion couldn't return back. But in around 1965, the saints said that nobody will be bound to Hinduism and whoever wants to return can return, and since then this campaign is going on. I don't know why today it's being made an issue," said Vaidya.

Reacting to reports of the people being bribed to convert, Vaidya said, "You cannot make anyone return to his own religion by bribing him. Those who want to return should have the freedom to do so. It's a secular country."

Earlier in the day, the opposition MPs attacked the BJP in both houses over the conversions organized in Agra reportedly by groups linked to the ruling party's ideological mentor RSS. The opposition MPs expressed serious concern over forcible religious conversions by alluring poor people and demanded a statement from the BJP-led government on the issue.

Responding to their concerns, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Muktar Abbas Naqvi informed that an FIR has already been registered in the matter. He said the government is committed to upholding the Constitution and secularism.

Expressing serious concern over the issue, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati told mediapersons outside the Parliament that the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government must take the issue seriously, and added that communal forces needed to be stopped from doing such things.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramgopal Yadav on his part said that strict action will be taken against the people who are allegedly involved in the forceful religious conversions in Agra. He said that an FIR has already been filed in the case and people involved in it will be arrested soon.