'Ghar wapsi' not conversion, says VHP

Demanding a legislation to ban religious conversions, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Monday said "ghar wapsi" cannot be termed conversion.

A joint meeting of central board of trustees and management committee, the highest decision making body of the VHP, which met here passed a resolution demanding that the government make a legislation banning conversions.

Briefing newsmen of the decisions taken at the two-day meeting which concluded here Monday, VHP international working president Praveen Togadia said they opposed conversions but believe in "home coming".

He appealed to all Muslims and Christians in India to come back to "original fold", saying their ancestors were all Hindus who got converted due to persecution or allurements.

Vowing not to allow conversion of Hindus, Togadia said the constitution is against conversions and that the Supreme Court has also made this clear in 1977.

"The Supreme Court has also given a judgment that Hinduism is way of life," Togadia said.

"If a person adopts western, Chinese or Japanese way of life, it can't be called religious conversions. Similarly, if a group becomes Hindu and adopts Hindu way of life, it can't be called conversion," he argued.

" 'Ghar wapsi' is different. We are in favour of it. All Muslims and Christians living in India are children of those who got converted after sixth century," he added.

Togadia claimed that "ghar wapsi" is going on in the country for 700 years and hence there is nothing new in it. " 'Ghar wapsi' is not against constitution or law. They have a right to make a home coming," he said.

The VHP leader also disagreed that "ghar wapsi" will affect the process of development of the country.

"In fact, this will hasten development. World over it is accepted that economic development will be better under cultural ethos. Culture is the driving force for economic development," he said.

Togadia denied that Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposed "ghar wapsi".

Claiming that the VHP is the only organisation giving free education to 20 lakh children, he said the VHP was making all efforts to help poor Hindus in all 53,000 villages by providing them food, education, health facilities.

The organisation appealed to every Hindu to help achieve this goal by donating some rice and one to Rs.10 every day.

The VHP leader also appealed to Hindus to forge unity and end untouchability.