The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today alleged that forcible religious conversions were on the rise in Tamilnadu and said the law against such conversions was not being implemented effectively. Addressing a press meet here, Mohan Joshiji, Akhil Bharatheeya Secretary (Dharma Prasar), VHP, said religious conversions were taking place on a large-scale in certain districts of the State as per the Pope’s order. This called for stricter implementation of the anti-conversion law. He also alleged that the Bishops, who met Pope John Paul at Vatican last month, had been instructed by the Pope to convert the backward caste Hindus with great vigour. He said the Bishops of Madras-Mylapore, Madurai, Pondicherry and Cuddalore had taken part in the meeting.
The Pope had also ordered that conversions be stepped up in the Southern States in the country, he said adding that funds had been received from abroad for the conversion activities. Joshiji also made the charge that conversions were leading to an increase in the number of Christians and Muslims. As a result, terrorism was on the rise in these regions, he said adding that there was a threat of them seeking independence from India. He wanted the Centre too to take note of this. The VHP had started social welfare programmes numbering 15,000 to counter the conversion bid, he said. About 50 lakh people had benefitted from this, he added. Criticising Mother Teresa’s beatification, he said the order to that effect was a bid by the Pope to dupe innocent people into believing in Christianity. An inquiry must be ordered by the Central government into the status of the 32,000 orphans, he said. He also urged the Tamilnadu government to leave the work of administering the temples in the State to autonomous boards, nullifying the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act which allows for government control of Temple Boards. Referring to the poll verdict in Chattishgarh, Joshiji said the Congress lost because of its pro-conversion policies. The Chief Minister of Chattishgarh Ajit Jogi himself supported conversion of tribals, he said. The tribals were also induced to embrace Christianity thanks to the support of the ruling government in the State, he maintained. The Centre must also enact a law banning all religious conversions, he said.