Parliament Live: Proud to have RSS background, Venkaiah Naidu on conversion row Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu addressed the parliament on the Agra reconversion row, saying that it was an important issue which is agitating the entire nation and defended the government. Some people are behaving as if the government is responsible for these conversions. It is a national challenge; it is not happening only today, it has been happening for a long time. And the government has just come to power. Some people are trying to use this to just accuse our government, Naidu told the Lok Sabha. He also said that the isuue was being seen from a narrow point of view. Im partly disappointed with the way in which conversion row was discussed in Lok Sabha, he told the house. Weve been in opposition for 50 years, Naidu roared when the opposition disrupted the house. Naidu also responded to allegations that the Modi government was promoting communalism. Another propaganda is that communal violence has risen since govt came to power. You may be disappointed but they have not increased. You may be inflating the number but it has not increased. The opposition is behaving like the heavens are falling, he said taking a dig at the opposition Naidu also asserted that communal violence had reduced since the BJP came to power. Agra DM told me that there is peace in the region. Law and order is a state subject. How is the Centre responsible for any of the events in Agra? I just had a discussion with the home ministry officials,they told me they are in touch with the state (UP), he asked the house. Freedom of faith is enshrined in the Constitution, everyone should respect this, Naidu said as the din around him grew. I feel proud to have the RSS background. Because of RSS discipline and background I have come so far, Naidu said. As soon as Naidu made his comments, the Samajwadi Party leaders walked out of the house in protest. He also defended Dinanath Batra and RSS functionaries and said he was proud to belong to the organisation. Dinanath Batra is one of the greatest educationists. I take it as an insult that I had gone to America to convert people. It is well known in this country that mass conversion happen by force. Sardar Patel admitted mass conversions took place in India. I submit that we cannot tolerate this. We do not want that the numerical figures of Hindus and others to lessen, he said. Why do you target other beliefs? If it doesnt come in the way of public order then it shouldnt matter, Naidu said. He also likened the opposition to a broken record, stuck on the issue of religion and saffronisation. We used to listen to records as children and they would get stuck and keep playing the same parts over and over again, Naidu described imitating the sounds of record. Most opposition walked out while Naidu replied on behalf of the government on conversion row. The government is committed to ensuring communal harmony in the country, Naidu assured the house. 4.46 pm: United Opposition rips government over forcible conversions An united Opposition launched a full-frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government on Thursday over the forcible conversions in Agra. The opposition demanded a statement from the Prime Minister himself. Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia slammed the Bajrang Dal for messing with Indias social fibre, at which point the Speaker of Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan cautioned him not to take any names. The Congress demanded that the Prime Minister of India should speak up and issue a statement on these conversions. He (Modi) is the PM of everyone. He is the PM of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, of Christians. We want an answer from him : Jyotiraditya Scindia. They are changing history, they are changing culture, they are talking about Taj Mahal now, but not talking about future, Scindia said. 3.07 pm: Are these acche din, asks MP Scindia on Agra conversions Lok Sabha returned after the break to discuss forceful conversions by Hindutva groups in Agra. MP Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the purpose of Opposition was not to slander the central government but the recent forceful conversions of Muslims and Christians in Agra were condemnable. Are these the ache din we were waiting for? Are we ready to spread viciousness among different communities for politics? Scindia added that India, being worlds biggest democracy, has to lead with examples and its the countrys responsibility to prove it to the world that we are a nation which is inclusive. The MP slammed the government for its planned conversions of Christians in Aligarh on the eve of Christmas. 2.42 pm: Akhilesh promises action against Adityanath Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav promised appropriate action against BJP MP Yogi Adityanath over the conversion row, according to TV reports. I have directed authorities to take appropriate action, said Akhilesh, according to Times Now. Communal forces have been trying to flare passions, he added. 1.45 pm: Home Ministry seeks report on Agra conversion row The Union Home Ministry has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file a report on the Agra forced conversions last week after opposition MPs in Parliament hit out at the government. At least 100 Muslims were converted last week following which the Uttar Pradesh government filed an FIR against the RSS affiliates. 1.05 pm: If someone wants to correct their mistake, whats wrong? BJP MP Yogi Adityanath is of the opinion that those who are supposedly converting to Hinduism are doing so because they have realised their mistake. This is what he said: Ise aap prarvartan keh sakte hain, ghar wapsi keh sakte hain, ise kisi anya tarah nahi dekhna chahiye. Agar koi apni bhool sudharkar swechha se ghar wapasi karna chahta hai to isme koi aapatti nhi honi chahiye (You can term this change, or home-coming-- you cant see this any other way. If someone wants to accept their mistake and return home then there should be no trouble with it). BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said the Opposition had no issues to discuss and was therefore pointlessly raking up matters. Opposition has no issues so they are creating pointless ones, no conversions were forced, he said. 12.45 pm: Luring people to change religion is a crime, says Digvijaya Congress MP in Rajya Sabha Digvijaya Singh today said that the attempts by Hindutva forces to forcibly convert people was a crime. Its a constitutional right of every citizen to choose their religion, but luring people to change their religion is a crime. Sangh and BJP have always had politcal agenda of dividing people of the nation in the name of religion, Singh said. His colleague, Ashwani Kumar, expressed similar views. Every Indian has the right to choose his own religion, but if they are forced or misled to convert, it is a violation of constitution. 12.15 pm: You are in power but your own people are insulting you, says Mulayam Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today warned that there could be riots in the nation if the government did not take action against forced conversions. Soon after, MPs of the ruling party protested against Mulayams statement. Did I mention anyones name? then why are they (BJP) all standing up? Mulayam Singh said, on possible riots due to religious conversions that took place in Agra last week. 11.20 am: Govt is ready, why wont you allow a discussion? Asks Congress With the government stating that they are ready for a discussion on conversions, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge today requested the Speaker to suspend Question Hour and have a discussion. Madam Speaker, you have the power to put aside the rules and have a discussion on the forced conversion issue. How can you not allow it if the government is also ready for a discussion? Kharge said. Samajwadi Party MP Mulayam Singh Yadav warned that the issue This is a serious issue, if you dont address it, there could be riots. Alright, if you dont want to suspend Question Hour at least have a discussion on the issue right after it, Kharge said, but the Speaker was clearly, in no mood to listen to his suggestion. If not discuss the matter here should we go and discuss it on the streets, a visibly agitated Kharge asked. 11.00 am: Speaker says no need to disrupt proceedings to discuss issue Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today rejected notices submitted by Opposition MPs asking for suspension of Question Hour as well as an adjournment motion to discuss the religious conversions in the country. Forcing Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to take his seat, Mahajan said there was no question of the House suspending Question Hour and no matter how loudly the MPs shouted, she would not give in. This is Parliament, of course things will be discussed. But you have to give proper notice, she said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, however, hit out at the Opposition saying there was no problem with unity, integrity and safety in the country... do not do politics.. I heard your leader... this is the way you are trying to create trouble. Its is definitely an important issue... we have no problem in discussing the issue but to ask for suspension of Question Hour every day is not right. They are senior members and they have been in power. Lets all sit together and discuss how to stop forced religious conversions. We are with the House on having a discussion. We will discuss it, he said. 10.35 am: Opposition playing politics over religion, says BJP Maintaining that their government opposed forced conversions, the BJP this morning said the Opposition was playing politics over religion. BJP condemns and opposes all forced conversions.. the Opposition is behind this, MoS Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters outside Parliament. 10:00 am: Opposition united to take on BJP over forced conversions in Uttar Pradesh Opposition parties are uniting to take on the government over the forced conversion in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress, Samajwadi Party and JD(U) have reportedly given notices for a discussion on the re-conversion of 57 families in Uttar Pradesh by right wing groups like the Bajrang Dal. This comes a day after the Opposition attacked the BJP over the forced conversions. BSP chief Mayawati and Congress leader Anand Sharma were at the forefront of the attack on the central government, which defended itself saying the law would be allowed to take its own course. BSP leader and former UP Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday was at the forefront of a strident opposition protest in Parliament over the conversion of around 57 Muslim families in an Agra slum by the Bajrang Dal and the Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Alleging that the people were bribed and forced to convert to Hinduism, Mayawatisaid that the government needed to respond to these serious allegations, adding, It is the responsibility of the party that comes to power to ensure people are allowed to follow their faiths without facing any discrimination. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that forcible conversions do not take place. Congress MP Anand Sharma claimed the incident was part of a diabolical agenda. This house must be assured the constitution of India will not be violated, Sharma, who is the leader of the opposition Congress party told parliament. Responding to the opposition in Parliament, Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Rajya Sabha that as far as he was aware a FIR had been filed in the case of forced conversions. To my knowledge FIR has been registered over the issue, Naqvi told the Rajya Sabha. The minister also told the opposition that it was wrong to drag in any organisation into the issue for political reasons. We are as committed to the cause of secularism as anyone else, he said. The incident, in which a ghar vapsi or reconversion ceremony was carried out in the Madhunagar slum in Agra, has caused widespread condemnation, after the Muslims involved said that they were led to believe that they had no idea that the plan was to reconvert them to Hinduism. The families alleged that Bajrang Dal activists merely told the families that they would be getting BPL cards, which would make them eligible for a host of sops, including subsidised schooling and medical arrangements but later realised it was a reconversion ceremony. Muslim groups have since demanded protection while the families involved have also faced condemnation from Muslim community leaders.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 12:58:51 +0000
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