India free to enact its law for its citizens, BJP tells Pope

New Delhi, May 22 (UNI) The BJP today snubbed Vatican Chief Pope Benedict XVI for his remark that banning conversion was unconstitutional and said India like Vatican was a sovereign nation and free to enact laws for its citizens in its geographical bounds.

In his letter released to the media, party president Rajnath Singh in a polite but firm language told the Pope that any interference in the religious domain in Vatican will be treated unwelcome and uncalled for in your religious management and administration.

He reminded the Pope that the Supreme Court in its judgement had upheld the constitutional validity of conversion laws enacted by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa governments as early as 1977 and these laws were passed by Congress-run governments in 1967 and 1968.

The Court had observed that the Constitution does not grant the right to convert another person to one's own religion but to transmit or spread one's religion by exposition of its tenets. It had also said organised conversion by force or fraud or through allurements taking undue advantage of poverty and ignorance was 'anti-secular', he added.

The respect of all religion was the essence of Indian secularism whereas religious intolerance constituted the basis of planner conversion.

''Such conversions can't be a secular activity,'' Mr Singh told the Pope.

He said besides MP and Orissa anti-conversion laws were in force in Chhhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Mr Singh said Christian minority in the country were patriotic citizens and they valued national interest and security. Mr Singh suspected the ''interested groups'' were raising the bogey of intolerance for attracting more international donations.

''You will appreciate when you look things in right perspective, there shall be abundant love among the children of God,'' Mr Singh said.

He also said one had to exercise restraint on reactions as any harsh reactions would generate militancy mood in society and social harmony will be a casualty.

He said India believed in human growth without any confrontation since ancient times.

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