VHP mulls re-conversion of Christians in Goa

Panaji, Feb 27 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) plans to re-convert Christians in Goa and is in the middle of an expansion drive in the state, a VHP leader said here Friday.

Ahead of VHP's golden jubilee function in the state, Dada Bedak, secretary in-charge of the Satsang (Spiritual Discourse) division, told IANS that the senior leaders would discuss issues like re-conversion and love jihad and how to approach them in next 50 years.

"Thousands of our brothers were converted to Christianity due to Portuguese oppression. We will, of course, make efforts to bring them back to the Hindu fold once we strengthen our organisation here. Our aim is straight and clean," Vedak said.

He, however, said the VHP would reach out to Christians, converted during the Portuguese regime, with "love and affection".

Goa, a former Portuguese colony, has a population of 1.5 million of which 26 percent are Christians.

Asked if the VHP would would take the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Goa to strengthen network in Goa, Vedak said: "We can't get help for this.

"We don't want to take any help (from the government) either for the organisation, but if we are building a temple then of course we will go to the government," he added.