'Ghar wapsi' is natural process, says RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya

AHMEDABAD: Defending the controversial ghar wapsi program, senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya today said 'conversion' is a wrong term to be used for'home coming'.

"Conversion is not an appropriate word for ghar-wapsi. This is not conversion. This is a home coming for those who have natural urge to reconnect with their roots," said Vaidya, Akhil Bhartiya Rashtriya Prachar Pramukh of RSS.

"So many Muslims and Christians come to our shakhas. We never pressurise them to convert to Hinduism. Our point of view or ideology is same. Our ancestors were also same. So we believe all are Hindus. Ghar wapsi is a natural process that has been running for a long time," he told reporters on the second day of RSS workers' conclave here.

Asked about RSS leader Rajeshwar Singh who oversaw the ghar-wapsi program in Uttar Pradesh, Vaidya said he had gone on leave because of ill-health, and would be given a new responsibility after four to six months.

Asked about the opposition targeting the BJP-led NDA governemnt over the program, Vaidya said the union government was capable of handling the issue.

On a question about Sanjay Joshi who was expelled from BJP in 2005 and who is expected to attend the conclave today, Vaidya said Joshi was always a part of the Sangh which was like his home.

The senior RSS leader said that 14,558 workers were attending the conclave. However, earlier the organisers were expecting more than 25,000 workers to attend it.