Right to convert

Sir,- This has reference to the news report `PM hopeful of solution to Ayodhya issue by March' (Aug. 27). It is possible that your correspondent, Mr. J.P. Shukla, may have misquoted the Prime Minister and/or misunderstood the Constitution when he reports, ``In fact, conversion had been guaranteed by the Constitution.'' Nothing can be farther from the truth. Article 25 of the Constitution grants to every citizen ``freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion''. This right is given not just to the minorities as is often made out, but to every citizen including Hindus.

Religious minorities, particularly the Christian missionaries, have insisted that Article 25 provides them the constitutional right to proselytise and convert. But, the Supreme Court categorically declared in 1977 that the right to propagate does not mean the right to carry out conversions.

Religious conversions are carried out by generally exploiting the vulnerability of specific individuals or groups of people. Then, through means of fraudulent representation and allurement of money and other objects, conversions are effected by missionaries. It is with these examples and dangers in mind that the Supreme Court delivered that historic judgment.

Rama Gopalan,

Hindu Munnani, Chennai

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