Evolve norms for religious conversions: BJP

Fielding an array of queries on conversions, he said that "limits" of conversion and the definition of "forcible conversions" must be clearly spelt out. Asked if conversion was not an individual decision, he shot back: "If conversions are not forcible, why is there a reconversion?" If there was no problem with conversion, there should be no problem with reconversions either, he argued.

Asserting that the BJP and the Vajpayee Government were determined to protect the rights of the minorities "at all costs", he denounced the Opposition forattempting to yank political mileage out of the recent riots in BJP-ruled Gujarat. According to Sharma, the riots in Dangs district in Gujarat was no communal violence at all. "It was a clash between the tribals and the Christians," he claimed. Stating that the media and the Opposition had overplayed the Gujarat incidents, he said the Vajapyee regime had provided a riot-free rule in the last 10 months.

He said it was surprising that the Opposition which were against President’s rule in Bihar where the law and order situation was worse, had sought the President’s intervention in Gujarat. "I am sure that like their previous attempts to exploit one minority community for votes, their effort to exploit another minority community will fail."

The Centre and the Gujarat Government, he said, had to be "appreciated" for ensuring that "no lives were lost and there were no open riots" in the Gujarat violence. Only 13 of 376 villages in Dangs district were affected by the clashes, he claimed.

When pointed out thatthe Hindu Jagran Manch’s rally on Christmas Day had sparked off the violence, he wondered whether the rally should be attacked because the processionists raised provocative slogans. "We are against any organisation resorting to violence," he said.

On the digging up of the Ferozeshah Kotla cricket stadium by the Shiv Sena in Delhi, he said the BJP had condemned the incident and the Government would ensure that the cricket match between India and Pakistan was conducted peacefully. "But the matter should not be stretched further," he said. On whether Shiv Sena was proving to be an embarrassment to the BJP, he said the Government has made it clear that it disapproved of the incident. Nonetheless, "we are not in a hurry to comment further".