The Hindu : National : Dharam Sansad for law to ban conversions

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 13, 2006

National

National

Dharam Sansad for law to ban conversions

Manas Dasgupta

Nation's security, culture threatened by "increasing growth rate" of Christians and Muslims

AHWA (DANGS): The "Dharam Sansad" at the Shabri Kumbh on Sunday adopted a resolution demanding that the Centre enact "strict laws" to ban religious conversions and deny reservation benefits to converted tribals.

The `Sansad' saw a threat to the nation's security and culture in the "increasing growth rate" of Christians and Muslims compared to Hindus and the "massive" Islamisation of the population in border States such as Assam, Manipur, Sikkim and Tripura and Christanisation in Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Indiscriminate conversion

Such "indiscriminate conversion" of the Hindu population could no longer be overlooked in the national interest.

Among those who attended the "Dharam Sansad" were Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K.S. Sudarshan, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia and a large number of sadhus and sants from different parts of the country. About 20 "tribal" representatives from the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Lativia were present.

At a "sants sammelan," Mr. Sudarshan called upon Hindus to prepare for a "war against forcible conversions" in the next five years to ensure the ushering of a "golden era" for India from 2011 as predicted by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo.

Stop recognition

Dr. Togadia said the Centre should immediately stop recognising converted tribals as Scheduled Tribes to deny them reservation benefits.

It would be the surest way to stop all "forcible, deceitful and luring" conversions in the tribal belts. "Hinduism has withstood all attacks on it and will outlive all other religions in the world."

Efforts inadequate

The three-page resolution regretted that the converted tribals were trying to take advantage both as Scheduled Tribes and minorities, which must be stopped immediately.

The Supreme Court had opined against conversions "by deceit, force or lure." Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh had adopted laws banning religious conversion. However, the efforts were proving inadequate to "control the attacking postures of the Christian missionaries."

Israel, Korea, China, Sri Lanka and some Latin American counties had adopted laws banning religious conversions. India must follow suit immediately, it said.

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