Opposition parties today accused the government of pursuing communal agenda over Muslim conversions, prompting treasury benches to hit back by charging them with keeping quiet when Hindus are converted under allurement or coercion.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had earlier alleged that such conversion may cause riots in country, today mellowed down his attack on ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a discussion in Lok Sabha on the issue of conversion.
He said conversion of Muslims in Agra was hardly an issue in the region and wondered if the discussion was really needed.
Initiating the debate, Jyotiraditya Scindia (Cong) alleged that Muslims were promised ration cards to convert to Hinduism and took a jibe at the government, wondering if these were the “achchhe din (good days)” it had promised.
His attack on some Hindutva bodies allegedly affiliated to the BJP drew protests from the ruling party and the Speaker ruled that any reference to outside organisations would be expunged.
“What has happened is against the Constitution. They (BJP) are trying to divert people’s attention from issues of black money and price rise by creating polarisation in the society,” he said, referring to recent rows, including one involving Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.
He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement on a grave issue like this as these communal problems were not confined to one state.
Saugata Roy (TMC) took potshots at BJP, accusing it of causing “religious polarisation” and referred to a ruling party MP’s comment that Nathuram Godse was a patriot like Mahatma Gandhi, whom he had killed.
“I thought BJP is for Ram. I got to know that it is for Nathuram…,” he said.
“You wanted power, you got power. Now it’s your responsibility to see to it that everybody lives according to Constitution,” Roy said.
Sumedhanand Saraswati (BJP) accused opposition parties of magnifying a “normal incident” and said conversion was started not by Hindus but followers of other religions.
Raking up atrocities against Sikhs during Mughal rule and conversion of Hindus to other religions in different parts of the country, he said BJP has always been against conversion and noted that its governments in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh brought law against it.
Hitting out at opposition parties, he said they did nothing when others indulged in conversion.
Speaking on similar lines, Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena) said these parties did not say a word when tribals in large parts of country were converted to Christianity and raked up the controversial issue of ‘love-jihad’, inviting sharp retort from opposition parties.
“I condemn their (opposition) attempt to attack Hindutva to appease Muslims,” he said.
Yadav wondered if members were provoked into discussion by reading newspapers as the issue had no impact in Agra and neighbouring places.
“This discussion is unnecessary… It can have a reverse impact,” he said, as some BJP members thumped their desks.
The House should pass a resolution against any kind of discrimination, he said.
The House saw heated exchange of words during the course of debate with members of the Opposition and Treasury benches hurling charges at each other.
Assaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) said Muslims are not scared of forced conversations and they would continue to follow their religion. He urged the government to rein in certain Hindu organisations.
His remarks that BJP has an umbilical cord attached to the RSS evoked a sharp response from ruling party members.
He said how would the two Muslim faces in the Narendra Modi government feel if they are asked to convert “and come back home”.
Rajendra Agarwal (BJP) said India is not new to forced conversions and even Hindu and Jain temple were demolished to make way for shrines of other religions. His remarks that history cannot be ignored triggered a sharp reaction from the Opposition benches.
H D Deve Gowda (JD-S) said Prime Minister Modi has to see that the development is all encompassing so that no one is left out. This, he said, would help him invite foreign investments to the country.
Md Salim (CPM) said the poor from the minority community are told that their conversion is the “antibiotic” for their “ailment”. His comments that by wearing a saffron headgear, a person does not become a ‘swami’ evoked a sharp reaction from BJP members. At least three BJP MPs wear a saffron headgear.
He said BJP should not try to force their idea of religion on others and should be open to accepting others’ point of view.
Certain organisations, he alleged, were offering basic rights to people if they convert. He said providing basic rights is the task of the government and not any particular organisation.
Tariq Anwar (NCP) said India is witnessing ‘Taliban-style’ decrees on issues like religion and clothes which is not good for the Indian system.