Inaugurating the 10th Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions here, Singh raised some key questions that needed to be put across as part of the debate on conversions. "Is conversion necessary...can social service not be performed without resorting to conversion?" he asked.
The home minister also sought a discussion on whether it was not possible for any religion to prosper without encouraging conversion. "Will any country allow changes in its demographic character," he asked.
Singh pointed out how minorities all over the world were known to demand an anti-conversion law, whereas the situation in India was quite the opposite with the demand coming from the majority community. "Is it not true that the minorities demand anti-conversion law all over the world but not in India?" he asked.
The subject of "ghar wapasi" or reconversion has become a major bone of contention under the Modi government, with the Opposition as well as minorities questioning the alleged moves by some Hindu groups to reconvert minorities to Hinduism.
Singh's pitch for a debate on the anti-conversion law is in consonance with the BJP's stance favouring a national law to curb religious conversions.
In his address to the chairpersons of various state minorities commissions on Monday, the home minister sought to balance his call for a debate on conversion with an assurance to the minorities that their interests would be safeguarded and their security taken care of. Singh said there was no reason for any religion to prove its supremacy over other religions, and noted that the patriotism of the minorities in the country could not be questioned.
Stating that alleviating the feeling of insecurity among the minorities was a great challenge for the government, Singh underlined that it was the Centre's priority to instil a sense of security among the minorities. Apart from requesting individuals to express themselves freely and openly without any fear from anyone, he appealed to all the state governments to take immediate action against incidents of attacks on churches and punish the culprits.
Such incidents should not recur anywhere against any religion in the country, he stated.
Minority affairs minister Najma A Heptulla, while delivering the presidential address at the conference, assured that the government was committed to address the issue of backwardness, both economic and educational causes, among the minorities. Incidentally, she has earlier taken the stand that the existing laws are enough to deal with forced conversion.
Speaking at the conference, minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh said there is a need to change the mindset so as to remove the cause of distrust and fear among different communities. Stating that secularism was too serious an issue to be left to the government alone, he said the civil society must take the initiative to build trust. Minister of state for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the security, prosperity and education of minorities were important issues for the government. He assured proper utilization of funds earmarked for minorities.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Rajnath Singh,Najma A Heptulla,ghar wapasi,anti-conversion law,Annual Conference of State Minorities Commissions
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