Kolkata, Jan 28 (IANS) West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress Wednesday claimed that over 100 Christians were converted by the VHP in Rampurhat in Birbhum district. The Hindu organisation denied the charge.
State minister and Trinamool legislator Ashish Banerjee claimed that a conversion ceremony was organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Wednesday in Khurmadanga village in Rampurhat in which over 100 Christians were converted.
"The conversion ceremony was conducted in Khurmadanga village. We have sought a report from the district administration and our senior leadership is discussing taking strong action in this matter," said Banerjee, the minister of state for education.
Reacting strongly, Trinamool Rajya Sabha chief whip Derek O'Brien said the state government was ascertaining details and if there was "even a hint of coercion or forced conversion, the issue will be dealt in the strongest manner possible".
"Bengal has a long history of living in communal harmony and bigots like (Pravin) Togadia will be dealt with ruthlessly. Let me say this, if there is even a hint of coercion or forced conversion the issue will be dealt with in the strongest manner possible," O'Brien posted on Twitter.
Denying the charge, VHP organisational secretary Sachindranath Sinha said it was a religious ceremony and not a "ghar wapsi" (home-coming) - a term now being used to describe a conversion ceremony.
"The allegation of conversion is false. It was not 'ghar wapsi', rather a religious ceremony in which most of the villagers including a few Christians families had participated. We always welcome all those who want to come back to Hinduism, but here it was not 'ghar wapsi'," Sinha told IANS.
However, many people who participated in the ceremony claimed they had voluntarily embraced Hinduism.
"There was no coercion. I was a Christian and now I have voluntarily embraced Hinduism," a woman told a news channel.
How did the government make the tax system better, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the 'Transparent Taxation - Respect for the Hon
In the last 24 hours, a slight increase in corona cases was recorded in the country. Here on Wedn
111 Bangladeshi fishermen repatriated
Kolkata, Feb 19 (IANS) A total of 111 Bangladeshi fishermen were repatriated Thursday, on a day
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that in any country, border and internal security is not p
It is said that in politics, what is shown does not happen and what happens is not visible. Big l
Gujarat: Kejriwal announces, AAP will contest all assembly seats in 2022
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Gujarat on a one-day visit today. Kejriwal went s
Along with land and sea, China is increasing its supremacy in space as well. Today the Chinese Sp
India defeated West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20. With this victory, Team India made
It has not been even a year since Chandrababu Naidu was almost removed from the scene of Indian o
Director Om Raut's film 'Adipurush' has been embroiled in controversies since its release. There
