UNDER attack over ‘ghar wapsi‘ and attacks on churches, government on Tuesday said it will not tolerate anything that disturbs communal harmony and sought to put the ball into the court of states, saying they should act against such activities as law and order is their prerogative.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also responded to questions in Lok Sabha over conversion, saying the government wants an anti-conversion law but noted that India is the only country where minorities do not seek such a law. Replying to a debate on Demand for Grants of Home Ministry which was passed later, he responded point by point to issues raised by the opposition, including concern over attacks on churches, religious conversions, approach towards separatists in Jammu and Kashmir, left wing extremism and women safety.
Responding to concerns voiced by opposition members over churches being targeted, he asserted that government will not tolerate anything that disturbs communal harmony. “I want to assure, especially the minorities, that government will protect them with all its might,” he said. Seeking to put the ball in the court of states over the issue, he said law and order was a state subject. “States should take strict action. How can the Centre intervene?” He added, “If it in happens in Delhi, we will take strict action. I think justice is not being done to the Centre if it is blamed for what happens in states.”
He referred to a recent attack on a church in Agra in UP and said he was “sad” about it and added that he was not aware of what action the state government had taken on it. The Home Minister said attacks on religious places have been occurring for long and there have also been instances of vandalism and theft at temples. Hinting that the BJP government was being targeted for political reasons, he said he had figures to prove his point but refrained from making them public as he was not interested in doing politics over such a sensitive issue.
“If I was interested in political gains, I would have tabled all statistics over the issue. It would hurt feelings of many people. But it would create an unnecessary controversy… I appeal to all not to do politics over the issue,” he said. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy referred to the attack on church in Agra and said, “what to do when one minority attacks another”.
As some opposition members drew his attention to controversial ‘haramzada’ remark of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti made sometime back, Rajnath Singh was quick to disaprove it, saying “it is wrong”. With regard to attack over ‘ghar wapsi’ (conversion) programme being carried out by some Sangh Parivar outfits, the Home Minister said the government is ready to have an anti-conversion law if opposition supports it.
“Questions are being raised about communal harmony citing ‘ghar wapsi’. I will suggest that let us take a decision and if entire House agrees, let us pass an anti-conversion law,” he said. “In all countries of the world, the minorities demand for an anti-conversion law but in India they don’t demand it,” he said. In an apparent reference to latest census figures which showed increased share of the minorities, Singh said, “India never expresses concern about changes in demographic profile.
No country will allow this change to happen.” Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said comments and actions by Sangh Parivar members, including some ministers, continue despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi disapproving them. “Are they not heeding to the Prime Minister? Their modus operandi is such that they say one thing and do another,” he said questioning why no action is being taken against such people. PTI
