BJP against forcible conversions, says Amit Shah

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Saturday said that his party was against forcible conversions and asked other political parties in the country to support a bill in this regard if they were 'sincere' in their approach to secularism.

"The BJP is against forceful conversions and that is why we want to bring a law. The so-called secular parties should support BJP's move," Shah told reporters in Kochi.

"A public debate on the matter can be taken up only after arriving at a consensus among political parties," he said when asked if the BJP was ready to talk to minority organisations on this issue.

On the 'ghar wapsi' programme reportedly carried out by a pro-Hindu outfit in Uttar Pradesh, he said "the matter is before the court. I don't want to comment."

He dismissed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's allegation that the BJP was trying to divide the country on communal lines. "There is no basis for that," Shah said.

Referring to the black money issue, the BJP president said that the party was committed to bringing back black money stashed abroad.

On the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, he exuded confidence that the BJP would form the next government in the state. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, had inaugurated a mega membership campaign programme of the party at Palakkad on Friday.

Image: A conversion ceremony in Agra, which has kicked up a storm in Parliament. Photograph: Sandeep Pal

• The double standards over conversions