Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: September 25 , 2008
URL: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080925/jsp/frontpage/story_9882482.jsp#top
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L.K.
Advani today called for a national debate on religious conversion, even as
he rejected the idea of imposing a ban on conversion.
"Time has come for a free and frank democratic
debate on the issue of religious conversion with a view to build a national
consensus against proselytization using methods of coercion or inducements
or by vilifying any faith," said the veteran leader while addressing
a news conference here this afternoon.
Advani said he has discussed the issue with
religious leaders and bishops and all have supported the idea of a national
debate and inter-religious dialogue.
"However, a campaign against conversion
cannot and must not become a campaign against any community," he said.
"In our country there can be no justification
for violence or vandalism in the name of religion," said the BJP stalwart.
Responding to a query on the demand of Hindu
religious leaders for a ban on conversions, Advani said he was against it.
"It's true that senior leaders, including
Mahatma Gandhi, were strongly opposed to the idea of religious conversion.
But nobody suggested a legal ban. The matter was also discussed and debated
in the Constituent Assembly, but no legal ban was imposed," said Advani.
Conversion is banned in Indonesia, while in
some other countries it is treated as a crime with provision of capital punishment,
he reminded all. In India, few Congress-ruled states in the past have also
enacted laws prohibiting conversion by inducement, said the former Union minister.
On the Centre threat to invoke Article 355
in Orissa and Karnataka, he said: "I will say that the two states have
controlled the situation that was created. But, what happened in Nandigram?"
The senior leader pointed out to similar ethnic
and communal clashes in parts of Assam, where non-Assamese people were targeted
and attacked and in Maharashtra, where a single party targeted non-Marathi-speaking
people, as the government watched.
Advani, who made an aerial survey of the flood-hit
areas along with chief minister Naveen Patanik, said the devastation caused
by Mahanadi and its tributaries is "tremendous".
A large number of people have lost their lives,
while nearly 40 lakh people have been affected, he pointed out. Observing
the extensive nature of the floods, the leader said the chief minister and
his government have responded to the situation with exemplary diligence.
"It's obvious that the state will require
considerable assistance from the Centre in carrying out relief, rehabilitation
and reconstruction measures," he said.
Describing the preliminary assistance of Rs
500 crore announced by the Centre as "inadequate", Advani said the
state government has submitted a memorandum seeking interim assistance of
Rs 2,450 crore and urged the UPA government not to "discriminate against
Orissa for political considerations".
