HP government to check forcible religious conversions:CM

Shimla, Nov 16 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government would be exploring the possibilities of bringing about a legislation aimed at banning forcible conversions in the state.

Mr Singh said this while discussing the issues relating to the welfare of minorities in the state with Mr Harcharan Singh Josh and Mr Lama Chosphel Zotpa, Members of the National Commission for Minorities, who called on him here today.

Mr Singh said people who convert to other faiths willingly and of their own choice were free to do so but no person should be forced to follow one or the other religion by force and through unfair practices which was contrary to the Constitutional Rights of the people. He said the country was religiously harmonious and every citizen was required to honour the secularity of the nation in the right perspective. He said that religion should not be the means of obtaining benefits and incentives.

Mr Singh said Himachal Pradesh was known as the land of Gods and Godesses and people had immense faith in the devotional powers and any hinderance by any means in performance of their devotional duties required to be checked for which the government would be initiating effective steps. He said the state had devotees of all religions, faiths and sects coexisting harmoniously.

He said the peace and communal harmony of the state would not be permitted to be disturbed at any cost.

The Chief Minister reiterated the resolve of his Government to safeguard the interests of the minorities and provide them equal opportunities to progress and prosper. He said his Government had constituted the Minorities and Other Backward Classes Development and Finance Corporations which were helping the minorities and deserving sections of the society with liberal financial assistance to start their self-employment avocations besides organising training and awareness camps for their benefit from time to time.

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