The Opposition on Wednesday expressed concern in Parliament over the issue of religion conversion in Agra and charged the RSS affiliate Bajrang Dal with alluring poor gullible families to change their religion. The Government, however, said it was duty bound to uphold Constitution and the State Government had lodged an FIR even as the Opposition demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Members of BSP, Congress, left, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP) and JD(U) raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha while TMC drew the attention to the issue in the lok Sabha.
Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during as soon as it met for the day, BSP supremo Mayawati said RSS-affiliate Bajrang Dal converted some Muslim families to Hindus in Agra by force and allurement. “This is a serious matter as allurement was given to poor to get them converted,” she claimed adding a similar exercise was planned in Aligarh towards this month-end to convert Christians into Hindus.
Warning that such conversions will lead to communal tension all over the country, the BSP leader sought strict action and the Government should take serious note of Agra accident. Though the issue was a State subject, she asked the Central Government to intervene as it was duty bound to uphold Constitution which guarantees religious freedom and provide security to all religions.
She was vociferously supported by members from Congress, left, TMC and SP despite Deputy Chairman PJ Kurine asking them to allow the Zero Hour to proceed. Anand Sharma (Congress) said the Government should be directed to give a clarification on the issue.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the State Government had registered a FIR and charged the Opposition with trying to gain political mileage out of the issue. Commenting that “secularism is nobody’s monopoly,” he objected to RSS name being mentioned in the case saying it was not appropriate to take name of the organisation for “political reasons.”
Sitaram Yechury (CPM) said the Prime Minister should come to the House and clarify on the issue. “India is a secular democratic republic and it will remain so. If attempts are made to change it, you will not remain but India will remain,” he said.
Digvijay Singh (Congress) said religious conversions by force and by allurement are criminal offence and the Government should respond. As treasury benches joined issue with the Opposition, Kurien said “the Government has come into existence by taking oath on the Constitution. It is bound to uphold principles of the Constitution. If there are any violations, Government will take note of it and take action.” The House resumed normal functioning after nearly 30 minutes of sharp exchanges between the treasury and Opposition.
In the lok Sabha, Sultan Ahmed(TMC) raised the issue as soon as the House met the for the day. “What is happening in Agra,” he asked waving the copy of a newspaper. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she has rejected his notice for an adjournment notice over the matter.