BJP conspiracy, intel failure behind conversion row: UP panel

The Uttar Pradesh Minority Commission today held "conspiracy of BJP" and failure of local intelligence behind the re-conversion programmes in some parts of the state that had triggered a major controversy during the Winter Session of Parliament.
Releasing a report at a press conference here, Commission Chairman Shakil Ahmad said local intelligence had failed to gather timely information.
"The four-member committee constituted by the Commission has submitted its report, which will be forwarded to the government. The team during its probe found conspiracy of BJP and failure of intelligence responsible for the conversion row," Ahmad said.
The 'Ghar Wapsi' programme, under which Christians and Muslims are "encouraged to return" to Hinduism, triggered a controversy that was eventually used by Opposition parties to disrupt Parliament, preventing the government from passing crucial legislations such as the Insurance Bill in the Winter Session.

Ahmad said that due to the administration's stand, no such programme could be held in Aligarh. But due to failure of intelligence, the management of a school, where it was scheduled on December 25 last, had given permission for it.
According to Ahmad, in Agra no conversion had taken place and no person changed his religion but "BJP and its affiliate organisations had lured people with ration cards and house and they attended 'hawan-pujan' despite all of them being intact in Islam."
He alleged that "after formation of the government at the Centre, BJP could not fulfil even a single promise and was afraid of the Akhilesh Yadav government's popularity in the state due to which it resorted to "conversion gimmick".