New Delhi, Dec 20: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has said that it would launch a massive campaign to contact the Members of Parliament to inform and appraise them on issues related to conversion of indigenous people to Christianity, safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and reservation to converted members of the Scheduled Tribe communities.
During the first phase of this two-phase campaign the VHP activists will be contacting MPs from north, central, west and north-east India and also from West Bengal. In the second phase of the drive the MPs from Odisha and south Indian states will be contacted, the official press release issued here said.
The statement said that the VHP has so far contacted 327 MPs from the BJP, Congress (I), JDU, Shiv Sena, National ZConference, TMC, CPI(M) and AAP. They have also met some Muslim and Christian MPs, the release claimed.
The issues raised during such meetings included religious conversions through unfair and fraudulent means in violation of the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution and also against the dignity of the individual; bring stringent legislation by the Centre and State governments against this ‘malpractice’ of religious conversion; debarring those members of scheduled tribes who abandon their ancestral religion and embrace other religions from reservation facilities at par with those who profess and practice their original faiths.
Another important issue raised during the contact drive was creating and mobilizing global opinion against the oppression and ill-treatment to Hindus and other religious minorities in the neighboring Islamic countries of Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The VHP claimed that consensus and convergence of opinions of several issues emerged during the contact with various MPs cutting across party affiliations.
During the similar drive before Covid pandemic the VHP had raised three major issues of creating separate ministry for animal husbandry. The VHP felt that the animal husbandry department was a part of the Agriculture ministry and hence lacked the attention of authorities it required to attain welfare of animals. Responding to VHP’s appeal the Central Government has formed a separate ministry for animal welfare, the VHP said.
The Modi Government has also accepted the VHP suggestion to form a central commission for protection and development of cow and its progeny by setting up the ‘Kamdhenu Ayog’ with an initial budget of Rs. 750 crore.
The Centre has also accepted the VHP demand for not treating the Rohingyas as refugees as they were found to be involved in terrorist activities in their country of origin.
