BJP leader calls for re-conversions with warnings and punishment to save Hinduism

Mangalore: In a strong reaction to the recent move by the Karnataka government to drop the anti-conversion law, BJP's national General Secretary C.T. Ravi has voiced his concerns and called for a Maha panchayat (grand assembly) to be organized by religious pontiffs to carry out re-conversions and safeguard the Hindu religion.

During a press conference held on Saturday, Ravi emphasized the need for re-conversions to be conducted through various means, including persuasion, donations, warnings, and even punishments if necessary. He urged religious pontiffs, community leaders, and jagadgurus to unite and devise a strategy to protect Hinduism and the nation.

Ravi expressed his dissatisfaction with the Congress government's decision to revoke the stringent anti-conversion law, viewing it as an opportunity to bring those who had left Hinduism back into the fold. He stressed the importance of converting people back to the Hindu religion and questioned the Congress party's stance on forceful conversions.

Taking a critical stance towards the Congress party, Ravi accused them of hating national icons such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, and Sukh Dev. He claimed that the content of textbooks was being manipulated, citing the removal of a lesson by author Chakravarthy Sulibele on these martyrs. Ravi alleged that the Congress party had opposed Ambedkar during his lifetime, defeated him in elections, and insulted him even after his demise.

The BJP leader's statements have ignited a heated debate among political circles, with supporters and critics offering contrasting views on the issue of religious conversions and the role of the state in regulating them.

The Karnataka government's decision to drop the anti-conversion law has sparked concerns among some sections of society who believe that it may lead to an increase in forced or fraudulent conversions. However, proponents of religious freedom argue that the law infringed upon individuals' right to choose their faith and was prone to misuse.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the issue of anti-conversion laws and re-conversions will shape the political landscape in Karnataka and the wider national discourse on religious freedom and identity.