RSS welcomes PM's statement

NEW DELHI, AUG. 20. The RSS today praised the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, for his recent remarks against conversions being carried out by Christian missionaries in tribal areas and said it fully supported the Government policy of ``saffronising'' education.

``The Prime Minister has endorsed our stand that Christian missionaries were engaged in forcible conversions,'' the RSS spokesperson, Mr. M.G. Vaidya said.

Speaking at a book release function here on Saturday, Mr. Vajpayee termed as ``improper'' the conversion aspect of the social service being carried out by missionaries in tribal areas. He had, however, said they had a right to do so. His remarks generated heat in Parliament today.

Mr. Vaidya said while Article 25 of the Constitution accorded the right to practice, preach and propagate one's religion, it did not provide for conversion. ``We are not against conversions to Buddhism or other Indian religions but conversion to Islam and Christianity turns a tolerant person into an intolerant person.''

The RSS was not opposed to conversion to Islam and Christianity provided ``there is a real change of heart and conscience'', he said, adding ``it is their (missionaries) method of allurement that we are against.''

On granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, he said it cannot be ``imposed'' on the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions who were against it, and demanded the abrogation of Article 370.

The RSS has set up a committee to study problems in Jammu and Kashmir and its report was expected by month end, he added.

- PTI.

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