Advani calls for a legislation to stop religious conversions

Renigunta, Apr 17 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani today said there should be a national and state-level legislation prohibiting religious conversions through inducement or coercion.

Addressing a press conference at Renigunta airport here, before leaving for Kerala to participate in the party's election campaign in Kasargode and Calicut, he said after the advent of the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh headed by the Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in May 2004, the state has witnessed a spurt in the activities of various evangelical organisations engaged in religious conversions, he said.

''It is bad enough that religious conversions are conducted in a systematic manner through inducements and coercive pressure,'' he alleged and addd that such activities also acquire an extra edge of ominousness in the garb of social service for the poor and underprivileged in society.

''I strongly condemn the campaign of proselytisation, which poses a grave threat to the Hindu society it also undermines national integration and social harmony between various communities.'' MORE UNI KNR SB RAI2242