Constitution doesn’t permit forced conversions : Naqvi

Mihir Srivastava in a way grilled BJP Spokesperson Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on the ban on religious conversions in Rajasthan and Shri Naqvi came out successful in presenting BJP’s point of view on the contentious issue. We publish it courtesy Tehelka weekly.

Doesn’t the Indian Constitution guarantee the right to convert to one’s choice of religion?

It’s permitted, but the problem arises when people are forced or allured to convert into a different religion. These kinds of conversions aren’t permitted in the Constitution.

Is there a target group?

It’s mostly in backward areas, among dalits and tribal people. They’re forced to convert by greed and told they’ll never get justice in Hindu society. If conversion is by choice, then why don’t educated people in cities convert?

They’re targeting people where the state has failed to extend its welfare schemes.

I completely agree. They are taking advantage of the government’s past failures.

They’re carrying out welfare programmes in basic health and education in these regions.

They are filling the gap where the government failed. Nothing’s wrong if social work is done selflessly. But here it’s being done with an agenda to convert unsuspecting, gullible people into Christianity. The intent is wrong.

Most conversions happen in BJP ruled states.

The BJP-ruled states cases have come to light because the government has taken serious note of the problem and has tried to control these activities. Conversions are also happening in non BJP states, like Kerala, Uttaranchal, Maharashtra.

You’ve brought legislation in Rajasthan to curb conversions? What’s the plan?

Broadly legislations are brought in to stop conversions. There should be a strict law implemented without fear or favour. Politics is played in law implementation. Congress might say that because of this their Christian vote bank will get disturbed.

BJP is the only political party saying it’s a problem. Opposition parties protested when the legislation was brought into Rajasthan.

Nobody other than BJP will understand this because others have vote bank problems. Like IMDT Act (illegal immigration) is not repealed in spite of Supreme Court expressing unhappiness. This is because infiltrators are potential voters. The converted are also voters. There are vote bank politics at play.

But converts vote for Congress, not BJP.

Yes. BJP is the only vocal party against conversion and has an open and transparent policy. So for those converting people, BJP would be an enemy.

Isn’t BJP playing vote bank politics in stopping conversion to save its own votes?

No. If we had to play vote bank politics we’d have been like other parties. We consider it a social problem, not a political one.

Your party president says the nation’s demographic profile will change if conversions continue.

There are two factors, conversion and infiltration. The official figure is less but the nearly five crore infiltrators living in the country are easily drawn into antinational activities. This’ll collapse our development effort. No country will tolerate it on such a large scale.

Demographic profile change also means that India may become a Muslim dominated or Muslim majority someday?

Issues of minority or majority are wrong perceptions. Whether a Hindu or Muslim, if he’s born in India, he’ll have patriotism in him, but infiltrators won’t.

There’s growing religious intolerance, people are insecure about their religious identity. You’re a Muslim leader of rightist BJP.

World over religious intolerance has increased. I wouldn’t like to say but Christianity is considered most liberal, but is in fact the most intolerant religion. Islam is even more intolerant. Hindu community cannot be intolerant, because Hinduism is no religion. But now it has become intolerant in its reaction. There’s competition in being more intolerant and saying ‘I’m the bigger leader of my religion.