Conversions by Hindu outfits an attempt to lure Muslims: AIMPLB

LUCKNOW: Amid a raging row over alleged forced reconversion in Agra, All India Muslim Personal Law Board today accused the VHP and other Hindu outfits of initiating the conversion campaign to "lure" poor Muslims.

Asking the government to take stern steps to check such incidents which polarise people on religious lines, the board at the same time said the design of communal forces could be defeated if well-to-do Muslims unite and help their brothers.

"In Agra it was seen that communal organisations resorted to conversion of Muslims by promising them Aadhar and ration cards. VHP and other Hindu organisations have launched conversion campaign to take advantage of poverty of Muslims," General Secretary, AIMPLB, General Secretary, Maulana Nizamuddin said.

"If well-to-do Muslims unite and help their brothers of weaker section socially and economically, the designs of communal forces involved in conversion campaign could be defeated," Nizamuddin said.

However, Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesman Sharad Sharma denied allegations of forcible religious conversion by the outfit.

"We are demanding a ban on religious conversion. It's not good for the society. A law should be framed to check it. However, if those who were forcibly converted are coming back to their religion, how is VHP responsible," he said.

He said that Muslims and Christians should also demand a ban on conversion and a law for the same.

Reacting to the reports that a Hindu-outfit has announced mass conversion of Christians and Muslims in Aligarh on December 25, Mualana Nizamuddin said that government should take note of "real intentions" of the organisation behind this.

Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said the "conversion campaign" was an attempt to polarise voters by vitiating the atmosphere in the state ahead of 2017 Assembly polls and said that government should take stern action against such forces.

He said that it was need of the hour that financially sound Muslims take care of poor Muslims to foil the conversion bid of some organsiations.

"Announcing conversion on Christmas Day is itself an attempt to create tension and should be dealt strictly," he added.