The Centre would consider bringing an anti-conversion law if there was consensus among political parties, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday.
“Problems are being created in the country today over religion. If everyone sticks to the teachings of his/her religion as lord Krishna had said in Bhagavad Gita, there will be no need of any conversion,” Singh said while inaugurating the 82nd Sivagiri pilgrimage conference at the Sivagiri Mutt near Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district on Wednesday. “I would like to appeal to all political parties and social and cultural organisations to build a consensus on the point that all would stick to the beliefs of their religions. That way we can even bring an anti-conversion law,” said Rajnath Singh at the Mutt where spiritualist social reformer Sree Narayana Guru got enlightened and attained salvation.
“I have come here not as a guest but as a pilgrim,” said the Minister, adding that Narayana Guru’s concept of development of society and individuals was that along with material progress there should also be spiritual progress. “Whenever there have been crises in the society, mahatmas like the guru have taken birth,” he said. “We should also keep in mind that the development of India should not be materialistic alone but it should also be spiritual… We want to make India an economic super power. But we should also make it a spiritual super power,” he said. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy delivered the keynote address at the conference chaired by Kerala Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash.
The 82nd Sivagiri pilgrimage had started on Tuesday with Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham president Swamy Prakasananda hoisting the flag and Kerala Governor Justice P Sathasivam formally inaugurating the pilgrimage. A minimum of twelve seminars had been organised in connection with the three-day event.