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Reconversion to Hinduism is not conversion, says VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has stepped up its demand for the enforcement of a legislation banning conversions in the country.

At the same time, however, the organisation is keen on reconverting into Hinduism all those who were ''forced to convert into other religions.''

While demanding the ban, VHP national joint general secretary Sadanand Kakade refused to acknowledge as ''conversion'' the reconversion into Hindu faith.

There is no dichotomy, Kakade told a press conference in Pune today. Reconversion into Hinduism was not tantamount to ''conversion'' since Hinduism was the original ''mother faith,'' he sought to justify.

The VHP has also sought a legislation to prohibit the activities of foreign missionaries in the country.

Meanwhile, Kakade reiterated the VHP stand that the organisation was in no way responsible for the attacks on churches in Dangs district of south Gujarat. The VHP has also reiterated that it has no connections whatsoever with the Hindu Jagaran Manch responsible for the attacks on churches in Dangs.

However, when queried whether the VHP supported the HJM, Kakade replied in the affirmative, saying that the VHP would support any organisation that was committed to upholding the interests of Hinduism.

Kakade sought to describe as ''mere shedding of crocodile tears'' by the Christian community over the attacks on them in Dangs. There is only one ''legally-established'' church in Dangs and it has not been touched at all, he stated. The hue and cry raised over the attack on Christians is just an international conspiracy to destabilise the central government, particularly by the opponents of the Pokhran ii nuclear tests, Kakade claimed. The attack on ''illegal churches'' in Dangs was in reaction to the attacks on the tribals by the Christian community, he counter alleged.

Kakade said that in 1947, the population of Christians in Dangs was merely 500. But, today, that figure has soared to 40,000 constituting more than 30 per cent of the total population. This has been due to sustained conversion efforts undertaken by the missionaries, Kakade alleged.

In fact, it is the tribals of Dangs who have over the years been forced to embrace Christianity and even attacked. The alarm raised by the missionaries now is just a classic case of crying wolf, he alleged.

UNI

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