Taking a tough stand against a US missionary for holding an alleged conversion event in a Government school at Rampur, leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Prem Kumar Dhumal on Tuesday sought arrest of the members of the missionary.
Talking to media on the issue of conversion at Kumarhatti, Dhumal said that the conversion ceremony was held in a Government school, which led to strong protests by the local people.
Dhumal said that he had got confirmation from the people of Rampur and even police authorities that the conversion had taken place.
Seeking strict action against the Christian Missionary, the former BJP Chief Minister said that the Missionary had flouted anti-conversion law applicable in Himachal Pradesh and the members concerned of the missionary should be booked for violation of law.
The leader of Opposition said that the members of the missionary should not have been granted Indian visa as it had insulted the country by terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as terrorist on its website.
Dhumal went public against the alleged event of conversion just a day after Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday said that the State Government would take action against those who had damaged public property during a protest in Rampur Bushahar on Sunday.
Virbhadra Singh had directed police authorities to ensure strict action against those who had tried to cause damage to the school building. In a public meeting in Rampur Bushahar, Singh had pointed at BJP workers for indulging in hooliganism under the garb of religion. Terming the Rampur Bushahar events first in the state, he had said that such vandalism had never been witnessed in Himachal Pradesh.
Though taking a precautionary measure, the State Government had immediately imposed a ban on holding of private functions in Government schools. Appealing for peace,
Singh also had said that violence was not in interest of the people of the State and communal violence should be avoided. The Chief Minister had ordered that government institute should not serve as venue for religious events.
Rampur Bushahar witnessed protest by some activists, who alleged that conversion had been done in the government school by Christian missionary, while the missionary had maintained that the congregation was organised after getting due permission from the authorities and it was not involved in conversion of Hindus into Christianity.