BJP, Opposition spar in Parliament over conversion drive

The issue of conversion of some Muslims in Agra rocked the Lok Sabha for the second day on Thursday with opposition members creating uproar and demanding immediate discussion on the matter, which they said could have grave consequences like causing riots.

The issue triggered a war of words between opposition and treasury benches, even as the government expressed readiness for a debate and possible legislation on conversions.

As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition members belonging to Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Aam Aadmi Party came to the Well demanding suspension of Question Hour to discuss the issue.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan declined to suspend the Question Hour, saying she would allow Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to speak later during the Zero Hour and if necessary allow a discussion. Her repeated pleas failed and the opposition continued to raise the slogan 'Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs bhai bhai'.

While members belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Left parties kept protesting from the aisle, the Question Hour continued with most of the questions being taken up.

Acknowledging that it is a serious issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said, "The government is ready to discuss and build a consensus on having a legislation on (religious) conversion."

Kharge said the matter should be taken up as a special case. "It is a very, very serious matter and there is threat to the unity of the country," he said.

He said religious conversions are happening and everybody is giving statements outside the House and even encouraging such things.

Countering the allegation, Naidu said, "There is no problem to safety, unity and integrity of the country... Don't politicise the issue."

Urging the Speaker to accept adjournment motion moved by Opposition members on the issue, Kharge said a few people were out to tarnish the country's secular image. "They are bringing the country a bad name and sowing seeds of poison."

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose party is in power in Uttar Pradesh, said incidents like these can cause "very grave situation" in country and ignite riots, inviting strong protests from BJP members. "I am speaking in your support. You should save yourself from such infamy," he told the treasury benches, while claiming that those behind the conversion were supporters of the ruling party.

The TMC, RJD, CPI-M, NCP and AIMIM members also supported

demand for an immediate debate on the issue. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the government was ready for a discussion. However, the matters mentioned in the list of business for the Lower House should be taken up first, he said.

Union minister and Shiv Sena MP Anant Geete objected to comments from some opposition members that riots may occur in the country and that the nation was in danger. The Speaker asked the government and opposition to sit with her in the afternoon after Zero Hour to decide on the timing of discussion, to which they agreed.

Earlier, during the Question Hour, the Speaker said a proper notice should be given for a discussion as the government has already expressed its willingness to discuss the matter. "You are interested in slogans only, you are not interested in discussions... This is not the proper way," she told the protesting members.

With the Speaker not accepting the opposition demand, Kharge wondered whether the discussion should take place on the streets.

Image: A religious conversion drive in Agra. Photographs: Sandeep Pal