Is Islamic outfit Sathya Sarani involved in ‘forced conversions’?
Many have alleged that Sathya Sarani is a centre for ‘mass conversions’ and promoting ‘extreme religious ideology’
On Wednesday the BJP in Kerala demanded that the National Investigation Agency probe into the activities of the Sathya Sarani, an Islamic centre in Mallapuram, Kerala. The charge levelled was that the institute was indulging in large-scale conversions and was even backed by fundamentalist group Popular Front of India.
A
memorandum
was
submitted
to
the
Union
Home
Minister
Rajnath
Singh
seeking
an
in-depth
probe
into
the
activities
of
the
institute.
While
there
have
been
scores
of
allegations
made
against
institute
in
the
past,
the
group
itself
has
denied
all
such
allegations.
The
group
in
fact
on
its
website
states
that
Christian
missionaries
are
targetting
poor
Muslims
in
different
parts
of
the
state.
"They are brainwashed and driven to Christianity exploiting their poverty and lack of religious awareness. Sathya Sarani identifies such people and brings them back to their faith," claims the institutes's website.
Sathya Sarani's office is situated at Cherani near Manjeri, Kerala which is a Muslim-dominated are. Locals say that there is a bit of mystery around this organisation. The lane that lead up to the organisation's office is blocked for the public.
This was visible during an August event when members of a Hindu group were barred from taking out a march to the office of the Sathya Sarani. The Popular Front of India under which the Sathya Sarani functions, had even said that it would protest any such march. Hindu group Aikya Vedi which planned the march however sought to know why was there so much secrecy around this organisation.
BJP's
chief
in
Kerala
Kummanam
Rajasekharan
has
termed
the
organisation
as
illegal
and
demanded
that
it
be
shut
down
immediately.
He
has
branded
the
institute
as
a
centre
for
large-scale
conversions
which
is
also
promoting
extreme
religious
ideology.
In
August,
Kottayam
resident
had
moved
the
Kerala
high
court
stating
that
his
daughter
was
in
the
custody
of
the
organisation.
The court had directed the state police chief to ensure that the girl does not leave the country to join any terror outfit. Based on the directive, the police conducted a raid, but failed to find the 23-year-old girl. The high court was also seized off a similar matter filed by a person from Thiruvananthapuram.