Forced Conversion took Place in Bengal, Claims Trinamool; VHP denies

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.