09-16-2005, 06:17 AM
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VHP favours law against conversions
Staff Reporter
Public awareness programme planned in two lakh villages
# Dharma Sansad planned in various parts of the country
# Reservation for minorities opposed
# Enactment of common civil code demanded
BANGALORE: Terming religious conversion as an attack on the sovereignty and security of the country, the all-India secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Mohan Joshi has demanded that the Centre and the States enact laws to ban it.
Mr. Joshi told presspersons here on Thursday that over 4,000 foreign Christian missionaries were engaged in proselytising activities throughout the country focusing on the southern States.
In the light of the disturbing development, the VHP would launch a public awareness programme in two lakh villages besides organising a Dharma Sansad at Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Puri, Guwahati, Karnavati (Ahmedabad) and Tirupati, he said.
Benny Hinn visit
American priest Benny Hinn visited Bangalore early this year with a secret mission to convert 15 lakh Hindus into Christianity. In 1997, Canadian priest Ron Watts visited Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on a business visa and converted over 10 lakh Hindus of those States into Christianity, Mr. Joshi alleged.
On learning about his activities in 2003, the additional executive magistrate of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours. But vested interests shifted him "illegally" to Tamil Nadu.
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a deportation order against Mr. Ron and his wife Dorothy Mary Watts. Following it, Mr. Ron left India only to return later with a new business visa that is valid until 2008, he said.
Christian population
According to the 2001 Census report, the overall population of the Christian community in the country is 2.34 crore. But the community has five Chief Ministers in Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
It also holds over 10 per cent of portfolios at the Centre. There were apprehensions that Christian organisations had plans to engage themselves in "vigorous conversion activities as happened in the North-East and encourage anti-national separatist movements in South India," he said.
Quota
Referring to the UPA Government's reported moves to give special reservation to minorities and Christians in education and in government service, Mr. Joshi said that such a move would prove to be another disaster for the country.
"Where is the need to give special reservation for them as the Constitution has guaranteed equal rights for all?"
The need of the hour was to enact a common civil code and abolish minority commissions and not special reservations, he added.
VHP favours law against conversions
Staff Reporter
Public awareness programme planned in two lakh villages
# Dharma Sansad planned in various parts of the country
# Reservation for minorities opposed
# Enactment of common civil code demanded
BANGALORE: Terming religious conversion as an attack on the sovereignty and security of the country, the all-India secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Mohan Joshi has demanded that the Centre and the States enact laws to ban it.
Mr. Joshi told presspersons here on Thursday that over 4,000 foreign Christian missionaries were engaged in proselytising activities throughout the country focusing on the southern States.
In the light of the disturbing development, the VHP would launch a public awareness programme in two lakh villages besides organising a Dharma Sansad at Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Puri, Guwahati, Karnavati (Ahmedabad) and Tirupati, he said.
Benny Hinn visit
American priest Benny Hinn visited Bangalore early this year with a secret mission to convert 15 lakh Hindus into Christianity. In 1997, Canadian priest Ron Watts visited Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on a business visa and converted over 10 lakh Hindus of those States into Christianity, Mr. Joshi alleged.
On learning about his activities in 2003, the additional executive magistrate of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours. But vested interests shifted him "illegally" to Tamil Nadu.
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a deportation order against Mr. Ron and his wife Dorothy Mary Watts. Following it, Mr. Ron left India only to return later with a new business visa that is valid until 2008, he said.
Christian population
According to the 2001 Census report, the overall population of the Christian community in the country is 2.34 crore. But the community has five Chief Ministers in Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
It also holds over 10 per cent of portfolios at the Centre. There were apprehensions that Christian organisations had plans to engage themselves in "vigorous conversion activities as happened in the North-East and encourage anti-national separatist movements in South India," he said.
Quota
Referring to the UPA Government's reported moves to give special reservation to minorities and Christians in education and in government service, Mr. Joshi said that such a move would prove to be another disaster for the country.
"Where is the need to give special reservation for them as the Constitution has guaranteed equal rights for all?"
The need of the hour was to enact a common civil code and abolish minority commissions and not special reservations, he added.