Lure of ration cards led to Agra 'reconversion'?

[Zarvan]

The RSS organized a mass ceremony and reconverted more than 200 Muslims to Hinduism in Agra on Monday.

AGRA: A day after a group of around 200 Muslims in Madhunagar slum-cluster here claimed they had "reconverted" to Hinduism, many of them on Tuesday said they were still Muslims, with some admitting that they had joined the RSS and Bajrang Dal-organized 'ghar vapsi' ceremony after being promised ration cards and houses. The saffron outfits, though, rubbished this claim, saying there was no inducement for "reconversion".

Farhan, a slum dweller, said, "If 40 people in saffron scarves come and stand on your head, you will do just as they want." Farhan was among those who had taken part in the puja, washed the feet of Hindu gods and also briefly worn vermillion on his forehead. On Tuesday, though, he said it was all for getting those men in "saffron scarves" off his back.

The re-conversion event was painted as "ghar vapsi" or re-conversion of Muslims who had Hindu ancestry. It was organized by the Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal. A 'shuddhikaran hawan' was also performed in the slum.

Bajrang Dal functionary Ajju Chauhan said the re-conversion had indeed taken place, and if the people were denying it, it was out of fear. "All these people have Hindu ancestors. They just did 'ghar vapsi'," he said, adding, "They were not lured by ration cards or houses. They wanted to lead clean lives."

District magistrate Pankaj Kumar and SSP Shalabh Mathur said no one had approached them in connection with the re-conversion event.


READ ALSO: RSS 're-converts' 200 Agra Muslims, says more in line


Ismail, who led the 200-odd Muslims in the event, said he offered namaz on Tuesday after no one from the saffron outfits turned up in their neighbourhood. "We're poor people and anyone can do anything with us. We can't afford to lose our lives over religion and conversion," Ismail said, adding that the promise of ration cards and houses had drawn many people.

"They first threatened to get us to vacate our homes. The land is owned by a Hindu. Later, they said that if we converted, we would get houses and better schooling for children," Ismail said. The women who had posed before cameramen on Monday sappeared withdrawn the day after and would not even allow the kids out to play.


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Lure of ration cards led to Agra 'reconversion'? - The Times of India
@AZADPAKISTAN2009 @Horus @Abu Zolfiqar @Arsalan @ajpirzada @fatman17 @Luftwaffe @Indos @Hakan @nair @OrionHunter @he-man and others
This is a massive slap on the face of India. The great secular India.

 

[OrionHunter]

Conversions happen all the time. There's a lot of money in it. It's a business. Hindus convert to Islam, Muslims to Hindus, Hindus to Christians, Christians to Hindus, Muslims to Christians and so on.

For example for each person converted to Christian, the converter who persuades them to do so gets Rs 5000 to10,000 from Christian missionary sources abroad! It's a roaring business model! It's very little to do with religion per se.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

no...way ...

 

[Umair Nawaz]

The poors problem is large and way more critical in india.

@Skull and Bones like i said if u are really sincere with yr country then u will do something abt it. Afterall its just about ration cards and houses which are build on a land owned by a hindu. But then again if u are sincere.

 

[Dushmann]

Looks more like staged media event. It should be done properly and they should get proper support and ggood schools for children etc.
already a thread on this
RSS 're-converts' 200 Agra Muslims, says more in line | Page 12

 

[Skull and Bones]

Had that money been spent on building schools, organizing free health care camps, or distributing agriculture seeds and fertilizers for free, would have had a long lasting effect of the good will of any certain group on the other, but for few shortsighted people, 'changing the identity of God they worship' is all that matters.

 

[Arsalan]

Had that money been spent on building schools, organizing free health care camps, or distributing agriculture seeds and fertilizers for free, would have had a long lasting effect of the good will of any certain group on the other, but for few shortsighted people, 'changing the identity of God they worship' is all that matters.

Had money been spent on building schools, organizing free health care camps, or distributing agriculture seeds and fertilizers for free, people would have not been changing there religions in the first place. Everyone could have been living with peace and prosperity. It is so unfortunate that the priorities of our governments and general masses are so ofter wrong on both sides of the border.