No forceful conversion or re-conversion: Naidu

Says the issue is being raised to defame BJP-led NDA govt at the Centre

The issue of alleged forced conversion of 100 Muslims in Agra was raised on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha, which led Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu to criticise any "forceful religious conversion or re-conversion".

Trinamool Congress' members of Parliament (MPs) said 100 Muslims were forcefully "re-converted" to Hinduism in Agra, though families later claimed they had attended the ceremony as they were promised incentives.

Later in the day, Naidu said the issue was being raised to defame the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. "No forceful conversion or re-conversion and no inducement to convert or re-convert. If this happens, local authorities will take action, as law and order is a state subject," Naidu said.

The minister said the BJP's opponents were playing the "old card", which had failed earlier as well, to defame the government when it had nothing to do with the incident.

Trinamool MP apologises
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Wednesday regretted his comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the late Lal Bahadur Shastri (former PM) and the latter's grandson Siddharth Nath Singh made in Kolkata on Sunday. Singh is the BJP's national secretary and in-charge for West Bengal.

Banerjee said his remarks at a public rally in Kolkata was "in reaction to the BJP general-secretary saying 'Bhaag Mamata Bhaag'." He added: "It was not my intention to insult the prime minister or show disrespect to the late Shastri. I respect both."

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya gave a notice for a censure motion against Banerjee, which the Speaker said was under her consideration. Naidu said an NDA government minister, Niranjan Jyoti, had also apologised for her comments made outside the House.

The Samajwadi Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, agreed that everyone should use decent language. Suggesting that it was but natural for opposition parties to become agitated, he said if the ruling party became angry, it could cause "a lot of damage on us as it is powerful".