‘If conversions are allowed, why ban reconversions?
Hinduism should not become one-way traffic where people are allowed to convert to another religion, but cannot reconvert, according to Vishveshateertha Swami of Pejawar Mutt.
Addressing the Virat Hindu Samajotsava organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to mark its golden jubilee at the National College Grounds here on Sunday, the seer said that politicians do not express regrets about conversions. But every one protests re-conversion.
“If there is permission for conversion, why is there no permission for re-conversion? By this logic, they should bring in legislation to stop conversions too. They have one rule for Hindus and another for the minorities.” When it comes to conversions, there is a weakness in the Hindu religion, he added comparing it to a tiger snatching a child.
“We are responsible for this. In the past, there has been caste discrimination in the Hindu religion. Dalits have been neglected. There should be no discrimination among Hindus.”
VHP leader Gopal declared that the VHP would continue its Ghar Wapsi programme. “With every person from the Hindu religion converting to Islam or Christianity, we are creating one enemy. He decried the State government’s decision to ban VHP leader Praveen Togadia’s entry into the City.”
Basava Madara Chennaiah Swami, Chitradurga, said that Hindu religion should not give any reason for people to convert to other religion – by following discriminatory practices within the religion.
“It is not enough if you convert people back. It is not like exchanging sacks of rice. For the Indian culture to remain, we have to stop discriminatory practices.”
Further, he said that when Togadia spoke in Chitradurga, he did not speak about waging war like Mughals or Nizams. He only spoke about sustenance of Indian culture.
Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi, RSS general secretary, said, “There is only one Hindu nation while there are several countries for other religions. Hinduism and India cannot exist without each other. Hindus’ future is this country’s future.”
He said that the country should not be divided on the basis of region and language. Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had created an “emergency-like situation” by banning Togadia’s entry. Former ministers R Ashoka and Shobha Karandlaje were present.