To put an end to the menace of religious conversions, a Central ‘Anti-Conversion Law’ along with tough measures to tackle ‘black money’ and ‘hawala’ transactions is the need of the hour ! – Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay
‘The menace of religious conversions has plagued India since pre-independence days. Foreign invaders had invaded our nation just to gain power, but more importantly to make India a ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’ (Islamic State). Today, large sum of money is getting routed to India from abroad in the form of ‘black-money’ and ‘hawala’ for the sole purpose of religious conversions. This money then finds its way to not only the missionary-fanatics but also to Naxalites, Maoists, Separatists and Terrorists. Therefore, the biggest threat to our country is posed by ‘hawala’ and ‘black money’. If conversions are to be prevented in a true sense, banknotes of higher denominations than Rs. 100 should not be introduced to curb both ‘hawala’ and ‘black money’ which result in these conversions. In addition to it, strict provisions should be introduced in the Indian Penal Code against religious conversions. These provisions should include 10 – 20 years of imprisonment and confiscation of property’, said Supreme Court Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay. He was speaking at an online special seminar on ‘Need for a National Law stop rampant religious conversions’ organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. The event was viewed by more than 3800 people on the Samiti’s website Hindujagruti.org, YouTube and Twitter.
On the occasion, the Coordinator of Indic Academy in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Vikas Saraswat said, ‘Despite a State-level Anti-conversion laws in many States, no missionary has yet been punished as per the provisions in these laws. Moreover, the Government and the Police do not even dare to take action against the religious fanatics involved in illegal activities. Advance trainings covering ‘how to go about religious conversions’ are imparted to these fanatics in the foreign countries. A Central ‘Anti-Conversion Law’ alone would not be sufficient to counter such attacks as any law would have some loopholes. We should rather create our own Hindu missionaries. A religious conversion must be dealt with a counter-conversion (bringing back the converted Hindu to his earlier Hindu Dharma).’
At the time, State Organiser of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti for Andhra Pradesh Mr. Chetan Janardan said, ‘Hindus have already become a minority in 7 States of the country. The Christian missionaries are openly admitting to be responsible for conversions of more than one lakh Hindus during the coronavirus pandemic. A newly convert in Andhra Pradesh vandalised more than 100 idols of Hindu Deities in the State. At one point in time, a Christian Pastor – Vijay said, ‘If the Hindus have issues with us, just give us a separate nation’ These instances are true reflections of their mindset. The fundamental solution of such conversions is imparting the education on Dharma to our fellow Hindus. It is for the same reason, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has started conducting ‘online’ classes which explain the importance of Hindu Dharma. Through these classes, Hindus are being awakened and united. A truly awakened Hindu never falls prey to conversion.’
