Anti-conversion law possible if all parties agree to it: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

HYDERABAD: A national level anti-conversion law could be brought if all political parties agree to it, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here today.

"If everybody is ready and if all political parties are ready, then anti-conversion law should be passed. Many states have an anti-conversion law. Conversion is not a new issue. It's an old issue. There is no problem in bringing a law against forceful conversion, but all political parties and people should agree to it," he told reporters.

He was speaking on the need of new anti-conversion law on the sidelines of the 17th Foundation Day function of the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) here.

Replying to a query that the Prime Minister was "silent about different issues", he said performance of the government is what matters and not comments of different people.

"This country runs on law, not on the basis of a stick. Law and order is state subject and the central government or Prime Minister cannot send anyone to jail. Secondly, you judge us on the basis of our performance and what we are saying. What some people are saying outside that is not important," Naqvi said.

"We are committed to empowering the socio-economic and educational empowerment of the minorities. We will not let any negative thing to dominate our development agenda. We will not let development agenda be disturbed. Our commitment is for development through good governance. We will fulfil that," he said.

The minister said the government would like to implement the 15-point programme for minorities' welfare effectively.