In the midst of ongoing uproar in and outside Parliament over “Ghar Vapsi” (home coming) programme launched by some Sangh Parivar outfits, the Government on Monday said it has nothing to do with it even as a united Opposition continued to seek a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
In an obvious attempt to distance itself from the controversial “Ghar Vapsi” programme, the Government asserted that neither it nor BJP has anything to do with conversion or re-conversion and if any individuals are violating the law, State Governments are empowered to take action.
Speaking in the lok Sabha, where an aggressive Opposition demanded a response from the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that contrary to the picture portrayed by the Opposition there was complete peace and harmony in the country.
“The Government has no role in conversions or re-conversions. Party (BJP) has nothing to do with the individuals who are doing it. If anybody violates the law, the law should take its course,” the Minister said.
Though the business in the lok Sabha continued despite interruptions and adjournments, the proceedings in the Upper House were once stalled over the conversion issue.
In the Rajya Sabha, JD(U) member Sharad Yadav raised the issue of conversions, saying Government’s focus is on the “ghar wapsi” campaign instead of fulfilling promises made to people. Ramgopal Yadav (SP) said the Government made so many promises but did not fulfil any. He was supported by Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) and Derek O’Brien (TMC).
leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the notice for the motion was “inadmissible” as a discussion had already taken place on the issue. He cited Rule 169 which states that a discussion once held cannot be done again.
Deputy leader of Opposition Anand Sharma demanded that the Prime Minister should come to the House and reply to the members after hearing them on the issue of conversions.
The House, however. adopted a resolution condemning the bail granted to Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman lakhvi and asked Pakistan to ensure that no perpetrator of any terrorist activity went unpunished.
Members of SP, JD(U) and TMC shouted slogans and held placards like Pradhanmantri kala dhan wapas lao and Pradhanmantri jawab do-jawab do. Some members of the Congress were also on their feet shouting “No PM, No House.”
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien made repeated appeals to the Opposition members to allow running of the House, but his pleas went unheeded. Amid the din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu urged members of both the Opposition and Treasury benches to allow taking up of a Bill related to dwelling of lakhs of people in unauthorised colonies.
The House saw four adjournments before it was adjourned for the day soon after 3 pm.
The verbal confrontations between the Opposition and Treasury benches led to two adjournments in the lower House also. Members from the Congress, TMC, CPI(M), RJD and AAP trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans demanding Narendra Modi’s statement on conversion issue. They later staged a walkout expressing unhappiness over rejection of their demand.
leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge insisted that only Prime Minister should respond to the concerns over conversion because “only his writ runs in the country” as he is the “commanding authority” and “holds the master key”.
Contending that conversion is taking place “voluntarily”, he said, “the Government is nowhere in the picture, the party (BJP) is nowhere in the picture. If any individual does it, action has to be taken by the State Government.”
He repeatedly said the Centre did not support conversion. He accused the Opposition of trying to make a political issue.
When Kharge referred to Naidu’s earlier comment that he was proud of his RSS background, the Minister hit back saying, “You are proud of Gandhi parivar, I am proud of Sangh parivar”.
He also took strong objection to Opposition slogans —PM bhaag gaya.... and said, “You attack our leader again and again... We should have respect for each other.”
While leading the walkout of Opposition parties, Karge said, “We condemn the attitude of the Government and are staging walkout”.
The Congress leader said conversion programmes are being organised across the country and the Prime Minister should come to the House and make a statement “because this is not BJP government, this is Modi government.” Rejecting the demand, Naidu said when a Minister has replied in the House on the issue, the Prime Minister need not give a reply again. He was referring to his reply to a debate over a week ago.
Taking exception to Kharge’s contention that only Modi matters in the Government, Naidu said, “hum log kya hain fir (what are we then)IJ We are Ministers. Modiji listens to all of us. The Prime Minister is the captain of the team and there is a collective responsibility. We are equal.”
Earlier in the zero hour, KC Venugopal (Congress) raised the issue of recent instances of Christian re-conversions in Kerala saying this was disrupting social harmony in the country.
To this Naidu said, “Action has to be taken by the state government and unfortunately it belongs to Venugopal’s party (Cong). Who stopped the Congress Government (in Kerala) from taking actionIJ.”
Tempers rose in the House after Kharge said, “Every day such incidents... Of ‘ghar wapasi’ are happening in various states ... Government is indirectly supporting it.”