BJP chief Amit Shah at a rally in Chennai on Sunday.
BJP chief Amit Shah said today said he did not wish to comment on Rashtraya Swayamsevak Sangh's chief Mohan Bhagwat's comment on India being a "Hindu Rashtra". (
If You Don't Like Conversions, Bring a Law Against It: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat)
"(I) do not want to comment on Bhagwat's statement. Venkaiah (Union minister Venkaiah Naidu) said we are ready to bring a law on conversions in Parliament. Once there is a law, this row will come to an end," he said at a rally in Chennai.
"The BJP's stand on forced conversion is right and we are clear on our stand. No one can derail us from development... Are the so-called secular parties ready?" he said. (
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At the rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Kolkata on Saturday, Mr Bhagwat, the chief of BJP's ideological mentor RSS, had said, "We are trying to create a strong Hindu society. If you don't like it, bring a law against it. We are firm in our position." (
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Coming in the backdrop of repeated attempts by saffron groups to hold mass conversion ceremonies in Agra, Aligarh and elsewhere, his comments created a controversy.
The ruling BJP, which plans to bring in an anti-conversion law at the Centre and all states, has locked horns with the Opposition in Parliament since 57 Muslims families were converted in Agra on December 8. (
Opposition Demands PM Modi's Statement on Conversion)
The Opposition has been demanding a statement on the issue from the Prime Minister. The BJP has dug in its heels - sources said the party will not concede "an inch" on this matter. The row has stalled work for the last two weeks and slowed the passage of several key bills. (
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On Saturday too, Mr Shah had said his party was against forceful conversions and asked other political parties in the country to support the bill if they were 'sincere' in their approach to secularism. (
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"The BJP is against forceful conversions and that is why we want to bring a law. So-called secular parties should support the BJP's move," said Mr Shah.
"A public debate on the matter can be taken up only after arriving at a consensus among political parties," he said when asked if BJP is ready to talk to minority organisations on this issue.