Kerala VHP anti-conversion8217; squad begins campaign

The squad formed for plantation labourers in Idukki district will chalk out an action plan to spread its activities at a meeting of the Hindu Aikya Vedi, a united forum of Hindu organisations, scheduled to be held here tomorrow, he said.

Rajasekharan, however, said that the squads 8220;would not force anybody to come back to Hinduism, but only try and persuade them to return to their old faith8221;.

An expert team would be appointed by the organisation shortly to identify areas where evangelist missionaries were concentrating their activities, he added.

A team ofsanyasins, led by Swami Raghavananda of the Sankarankovil Anjaneya Mutt of Tamil Nadu already started a door-to-door campaign in Idukki, he said, and claimed that since the launch of its campaign recently, about 200 people had been converted back to their old faith.

State Vishwa Hindu Parishad president said that as per the interim plan, several awareness campaigns and conventions would be organised and thousands of copies of literature were being distributed in the State that would discourage people from changing their faith.

He said training for another batch of 100 8220;Hindu missionaries8221; was part of the campaign and would begin soon.

Rajasekharan alleged that large scale conversion had been going on in the plantation areas of Idukki with the full support of estate owners. Of the 200,000 plantation workers, 15 per cent had already been converted into Christianity during the last 15 years, he said.

He claimed that foreign agencies were pumping in crores of rupees into Kerala to support theactivities of Christian missionaries.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad state president added that his organisation would approach plantation owners for financial assistance to curtail religious conversion in these areas.

Rajasekharan said that a State-level convention on conversion would be held here tomorrow. Leading sanyasins, prominent cultural figures and leaders of various associations would take part in the day-long deliberations.

Prominent among the participants are Akhil Bharatiya Ayyappa Seva Sanghom president D Damodaran Potti, Kannyakumari Vivekananda Kendra president P Parameswaran, Indian Bible Studies director Joseph Pulikkunnel, former Sivagiri Mutt president Swami Prakashananda and Swami Rithambarananda.Five books on religious conversion would also be released in connection with the campaign, an exhibition on the historical background and various aspects of conversion would also be held.

Holding that conversion with 8220;full will and knowledge8221; was never opposed by anybody, Hindu Aikya Vedigeneral secretary G Sisupalan argued that any attempt to force conversion or by influencing with 8220;lucrative offers8221; was against the fundamental rights of a citizen.

He said the convention would deliberate on the issue and chalk out an agenda to unite all like-minded people who help check forced conversions.