Over 50 Muslim families were converted to Hinduism in Agra earlier this month.
Saffron groups came under fire today after the mass religious conversion at Gujarat's Valsad, with Christian groups and the opposition parties accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of forcing or enticing religious minorities to convert to Hinduism. (
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"Extreme right wing is flexing its muscles. VHP/RSS through Hindutva rewriting history and economic policies," tweeted senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh. (
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A Gujarat-based priest said he could not "accept that anyone who has been a Christian will convert to other religion by personal choice". "The VHP is forcing people and luring them to convert their religion," Father Dominic said. (
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Around 100 Christian converted to Hinduism at a tribal village 350 km south of state capital Ahmedabad. The state government distanced itself from the event, saying if it was voluntary then the government had no role in it. (
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The saffron groups claim the events are not religious conversion but reconversion - "ghar-vapasi" - since these families were Hindus before they converted to other religions.
Ajit Solanki, the district president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Gujarat, denied using any kind of force or monetary promises for the conversions, maintaining that the decision of the families was voluntary. (
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"They were Hindus and we have just facilitated their return to the Hinduism fold. We will continue to hold more reconversion programmes," said Mr Solanki.
The Valsad conversions come as the BJP is pushing for a new law across India to ban forcible religious conversions.
The issue of mass conversions has paralysed Parliament for nearly two weeks, with the Opposition demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement on the matter. BUt sources in the BJP said the party will not "cede an inch" on the matter.