Udupi (Karnataka): The ghar wapsi (homecoming) campaign, to start from the hypersensitive Udupi district in coastal Karnataka, has become a matter of concern for law enforcement agencies.
The Parivar’s choice of the location, considered a BJP stronghold, for the reconversion into Hinduism event, is ringing alarm bells in the district administration. This is so as the police have categorised Udupi as a “hypersensitive” district under “communal unrest”.
Preparations are in full swing in the district to convert as many as 110 families who have adopted Christianity. However, the entire programme is being covertly organised owing to the controversy surrounding it.
It is learnt that Vishweshateertha Swamiji (seer of the powerful Pejawar Mutt), a key architect of Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi movement, is backing it.
A prominent Sangh Parivar leader said: “We have identified several Brahmin, Idiga, Koraga and Billava families, who had converted to Christianity over the past few decades. However, some of their relatives are still retaining their Hindu identity. We are using their clout to prevail upon the families to return to the Hindu fold.”
Apparently, the Parivar has launched a survey to identify such families across Udupi district.
G Vasudeva Bhatta, leader of a Sangh Parivar unit, said that Vishweshateertha Swamiji will visit some of the identified families and prevail upon them to return to Hinduism.
Bhatta added: “We have several plans, including awareness programmes. We are hopeful of convincing these families.”
The ghar wapsi event is likely to be launched in the second half of January.
But, prior to that, an important meeting of the Sangh Parivar leaders will be held in Bengaluru. There will also be a convention of Hindu leaders and pontiffs of influential religious institutes in the coming days.
Though incidents of communal clashes have come down in recent years, the police continue to keep an eye on the district.
Incidents of moral policing were rampant in Udupi district when the BJP was in power in Karnataka with churches being targeted for opposing conversion between 2008 and 2009.
Udupi was the first district where the BJP had grabbed power in the panchayats. A police officer said: “There is no specific information as of now on this reconversion. Nevertheless, we are monitoring the developments in Udupi district to prevent any untoward incident.”
So far, neither the Congress nor the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders of the state have reacted to the planned ghar wapsi function in the district.
S0urce : India Today
