No forced conversions in State: Kharge

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, APRIL 19. The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, denied in the Legislative Assembly today that any forced conversion of Hindus to Christianity or other religions was going on in the State.

He was replying to the issue of conversions to Christianity through force or inducements, raised by the BJP member, Mr. Vishveshvar Hegde. Some other BJP members also complained of such conversions in their constituencies.

The Home Minister offered to get the matter inquired into if specific cases of use of force to convert people to other faiths were brought to his notice. He said people were agreeing to change their religion for various reasons, including inequality or deficiencies in the religion into which they were born. He appealed to the members not to harm peace and communal harmony in the State. They should not compartmentalise society. Conversion through inducements was not forced conversion, he added.

Raising the issue, Mr. Vishveshvar Hegde said forced conversions of tribal people in particular were going on his Ankola constituency and Uttara Kannada District. He quoted from newspaper reports about an international conspiracy to convert Hindus to Christianity. Mr. Hegde said people were being offered various facilities such as education and medical aid and told to embrace Christianity. The Government should tackle the problem by providing minimum facilities to the vulnerable sections of the people.

The Minister for Large and Medium Industries, Mr. R. V. Deshpande, intervened and demanded that the member cite a single case. Mr. Hegde hit back saying that Mr. Deshpande was unaware of what was going on in the district of which he was the in charge minister.

The Home Minister said it was for the first time the House was hearing complaints regarding forced conversions. There was no such report before the Government.

Mr. Puttaranganath (BJP) asked Mr. Kharge how he could deny what was being alleged by the members. Forced conversions had taken place in two villages in Belur constituency in Hassan District.

Mr. Araga Jnanendra (BJP) spoke of conversions to Christianity in Thirthahalli taluk of Shimoga District, and said that there was a conspiracy to subvert the culture of the people.

Mr. Prabhakar Bangera (BJP) alleged that women were being targeted by the evangelists. He spoke of conversions in three villages in his Belthangady constituency.

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Section  : Regional
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