Rajnath Singh reassures minorities, but raises questions on conversions

by Shivendra Singh · March 23, 2015

Rajnath Singh also said on Twitter that India was a “country which respects all religions and believes in peaceful existence.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that the central government was committed to instilling a sense of security among religious minorities. He also said that “religious conversion” was unnecessary, and that strong “anti-conversion” measures were required in the country.

In the face of outrage over the aggressive “ghar wapsi” or ‘re-conversion’ campaign by Sangh Parivar affiliates recently, the BJP has repeatedly pressed for a strong anti-conversion law.

“There is a feeling of insecurity among minorities, and it is necessary that a sense of security should be instilled in them. There are a lot of misconceptions… But the government cannot do everything. On issues like ghar wapsi and religious conversions, the cooperation of society too is required,” Singh told the annual conference of state minorities commissions at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.

“Kya hum sab ko ek doosre pe supremacy ki zaroorat hai? Hum kyon dharm pariwartan karaana chahte hain? Kya hum faisla nahin kar sakte ki insaan ki sewa karna theek hai, par dharm pariwartan kyon karaate hain? Conversion kyon karaaye jaa rahen hain? (Do we need to impose the supremacy of our faith over others? Can’t we decide that serving humanity is fine, but why do people have to be converted to another faith? Why are religious conversions being carried out?)” Singh said, in what appeared to be a reference to Christian missionaries who have faced allegations of converting the poor in the name of serving them.

While stressing that the patriotism of minorities could not be questioned, Singh raised several questions on which he said a national debate was necessary. Soon after his speech, the Home Minister posted on his Twitter handle:

I also raised certain questions before the audience as there should be a national debate on these issues..1-Is conversion necessary ?

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 23, 2015

2- Can social service not be performed in India without resorting to conversion?

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 23, 2015

3- Why cant all religions prosper without promoting conversion in India?

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 23, 2015

3-How can a country like India allow changes in its demographic profile and character?

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 23, 2015

4-On the one hand in other countries minorities demand ‘anti-conversion laws’ for their protection but in India it is different?

— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) March 23, 2015

The Minister also said on Twitter that India was a “country which respects all religions and believes in peaceful existence. We have all 72 sects of Islam living here peacefully”. Kerala, he said, “houses one of the oldest churches in the world. No other country in the world is as diverse yet united as India.”

Source:: Indian Express