Govt says ready to bring law to ban conversions

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 11

The issue of forced conversions in Agra came up for frenzied discussions in the Lok Sabha today with the government proposing Central and state-level anti-conversion laws to arrest the trend and the Congress-led Opposition walking out of the debate in the middle of the minister’s response.

The trigger for the Congress, the TMC, the CPM, the SP and the MIM walking out was Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu’s following statement: “I don’t understand some people’s allergy for the word “Hindu”. I didn’t coin this word, nor did the RSS or Narendra Modi. The Opposition is perfect at spreading misinformation about the RSS and the so-called saffronization and conversions. The RSS is a great organization …I’m proud of it.”

Naidu’s remarks led to uproarious scenes with the Congress and other parties staging a walkout despite having demanded an urgent discussion on the issue even when the minister concerned (Home Minister) was out of town.

The Speaker allowed the discussion at 3 pm after Opposition disrupted the Question Hour this morning leading to one adjournment.

Replying to the debate initiated by Congress’ Jyotiraditya Scindia who accused the BJP of assaulting the Constitution by forcibly converting Muslims in Agra, Naidu said, “Your habit of misinforming people has resulted in your electoral decimation. If you continue like this, you won’t see power for two decades.”

After the Congress walked out, Naidu compared it to a broken gramophone record saying, “It was stuck on one song.” He also questioned Congress’ routine of walking out of debates after seeking them. Assuring the House of communal harmony, Naidu cited Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel’s abhorrence for proselytizing by missionaries to say that the government was willing to bring a law to ban conversions.

Earlier, Scindia attacked the BJP for working to polarize the country to deflect people’s attention from basic issues. “They say Gita is the national scripture. No, the only national scripture is the Constitution. They are converting people by promising them a ration card. The RSS and Bajrang Dal are doing this..,” he said inviting sharp reactions from the Treasury benches.