BJP for anti-conversion laws in riot-hit states
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In the wake of continuing attacks on Christians, the BJP on Monday called for passing of an anti-conversion law in states like Karnataka and Orissa to check the communal violence there.
Stating the communal violence in the two states had its roots in socio-political and economic reasons, the saffron party accused the Congress-led UPA government of "selective condemnation".
Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu also demanded a comprehensive debate on the issue, while invoking Mahatma Gandhi's stand against conversions.
Quoting Gandhi, Naidu said, "If I had the power and could legislate, I should stop all proselytising". He said there was need for an anti-conversion law and called for a full-fledge debate on the issue.
When it was pointed out that five states, including Orissa, already had an anti-conversion law but this had not prevented communal violence there, Naidu said the reasons were more deep-rooted and there was a need for a dialogue between the two communities.
"Unless the core issues of land alienation and organised conversions are not addressed in its totality, the situation in Orissa cannot be expected to improve...the government should take steps to release large tracts of land that are being grabbed by fraudulent means," Naidu said.
Those forging caste certificates to get the benefits of reservation should also be dealt with severely by the government, he added.
Venkaiah Naidu alleged that there was an effort to use foreign funding to convert people in the garb of service.
"Conversion of faith by an individual can be acceptable but treating conversions as an organisational target with funding linked to it is completely unacceptable," he said.
Calling the Congress-led UPA leaders "macaulay-minded psuedo-secularists", Naidu said they wanted to ban nationalist organisations (a reference to RSS and Bajrang Dal), while welcoming SIMI and HUJI like outfits which have been accused of terrorism.
Naidu warned that UPA should not indulge in any "constitutional adventurism" by seeking to "misuse" Article 356 on Orissa as it would have disastrous consequences for the Congress and its supporters.
Defending the Orissa government, Naidu said the social conflict between the Panas- who belong to the Scheduled Caste and most of whom have converted to Christianity- and Kandhas, who are from the Scheduled Tribe and have resisted conversions to Christianity, was the reason behind the recent communal violence there.
Most Panas converts were using forged Scheduled Caste certificates leading to a conflict with Kandhas. After conversion, the economic status of Panas improved and they started acquiring land belonging to Kandhas, he alleged.
"In substance, the clash between the Panas and Kandhas is a socio-economic issue especially over land rights coupled with the issue of organised conversions," he said.
Similarly, in Karnataka 'New Life', an evangelical organisation, had made highly denigrating remarks against Hindu gods in its publication 'Satya Darshini' leading to violence, Naidu alleged.
Stating the communal violence in the two states had its roots in socio-political and economic reasons, the saffron party accused the Congress-led UPA government of "selective condemnation".
Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu also demanded a comprehensive debate on the issue, while invoking Mahatma Gandhi's stand against conversions.
Quoting Gandhi, Naidu said, "If I had the power and could legislate, I should stop all proselytising". He said there was need for an anti-conversion law and called for a full-fledge debate on the issue.
When it was pointed out that five states, including Orissa, already had an anti-conversion law but this had not prevented communal violence there, Naidu said the reasons were more deep-rooted and there was a need for a dialogue between the two communities.
"Unless the core issues of land alienation and organised conversions are not addressed in its totality, the situation in Orissa cannot be expected to improve...the government should take steps to release large tracts of land that are being grabbed by fraudulent means," Naidu said.
Those forging caste certificates to get the benefits of reservation should also be dealt with severely by the government, he added.
Venkaiah Naidu alleged that there was an effort to use foreign funding to convert people in the garb of service.
"Conversion of faith by an individual can be acceptable but treating conversions as an organisational target with funding linked to it is completely unacceptable," he said.
Calling the Congress-led UPA leaders "macaulay-minded psuedo-secularists", Naidu said they wanted to ban nationalist organisations (a reference to RSS and Bajrang Dal), while welcoming SIMI and HUJI like outfits which have been accused of terrorism.
Naidu warned that UPA should not indulge in any "constitutional adventurism" by seeking to "misuse" Article 356 on Orissa as it would have disastrous consequences for the Congress and its supporters.
Defending the Orissa government, Naidu said the social conflict between the Panas- who belong to the Scheduled Caste and most of whom have converted to Christianity- and Kandhas, who are from the Scheduled Tribe and have resisted conversions to Christianity, was the reason behind the recent communal violence there.
Most Panas converts were using forged Scheduled Caste certificates leading to a conflict with Kandhas. After conversion, the economic status of Panas improved and they started acquiring land belonging to Kandhas, he alleged.
"In substance, the clash between the Panas and Kandhas is a socio-economic issue especially over land rights coupled with the issue of organised conversions," he said.
Similarly, in Karnataka 'New Life', an evangelical organisation, had made highly denigrating remarks against Hindu gods in its publication 'Satya Darshini' leading to violence, Naidu alleged.
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