<p>Vishwa Hindu Parishad today "re-converted" over 200 tribal Christians to Hinduism by holding rituals at Aranai village in Valsad district of BJP-ruled Gujarat, claimed a local leader.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The right-wing outfit also said the re-conversion was "voluntary" and not by force.<br />"As part of the ongoing 'Ghar-Vaapsi' programme, VHP today re-converted 225 people from Christian community and took them back into Hindu religion," said Valsad district VHP chief Natu Patel.<br /><br />He said VHP organised a 'Maha Yagnya' (ritual of the sacred fire) for "purification" of the tribals before taking them back in Hindu-fold and also gave each of them a copy of Bhagwad Gita.<br /><br />Another VHP worker, Ashok Sharma, said around 3,000 people had gathered at the 'Ghar-Vaapsi' programme in Valsad, which culminated today.<br /><br />"VHP today greeted around 225 people back in their own religion in Valsad. We have not forced them, they came on their own wish," Sharma said.<br /><br />The incident came against the backdrop of a raging debate over such programmes being organised by Sangh Parivar groups in various parts of the country.<br /><br />A controversy had erupted early this month when a right wing group had organised a 'Ghar-wapasi' drive wherein it reportedly converted about 100 people from a minority community in Agra in Uttar Pradesh.<br /><br />The incident had created a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br /><br />A similar incident was also reported from BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh where a party MP had claimed 39 tribal Christians were re-converted to Hinduism in Naxal-hit Bastar district in October this year.<br /><br />In its response to the opposition over the conversion issue, BJP has demanded bringing of anti-conversion law.<br /></p>
<p>Vishwa Hindu Parishad today "re-converted" over 200 tribal Christians to Hinduism by holding rituals at Aranai village in Valsad district of BJP-ruled Gujarat, claimed a local leader.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The right-wing outfit also said the re-conversion was "voluntary" and not by force.<br />"As part of the ongoing 'Ghar-Vaapsi' programme, VHP today re-converted 225 people from Christian community and took them back into Hindu religion," said Valsad district VHP chief Natu Patel.<br /><br />He said VHP organised a 'Maha Yagnya' (ritual of the sacred fire) for "purification" of the tribals before taking them back in Hindu-fold and also gave each of them a copy of Bhagwad Gita.<br /><br />Another VHP worker, Ashok Sharma, said around 3,000 people had gathered at the 'Ghar-Vaapsi' programme in Valsad, which culminated today.<br /><br />"VHP today greeted around 225 people back in their own religion in Valsad. We have not forced them, they came on their own wish," Sharma said.<br /><br />The incident came against the backdrop of a raging debate over such programmes being organised by Sangh Parivar groups in various parts of the country.<br /><br />A controversy had erupted early this month when a right wing group had organised a 'Ghar-wapasi' drive wherein it reportedly converted about 100 people from a minority community in Agra in Uttar Pradesh.<br /><br />The incident had created a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha with the opposition demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br /><br />A similar incident was also reported from BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh where a party MP had claimed 39 tribal Christians were re-converted to Hinduism in Naxal-hit Bastar district in October this year.<br /><br />In its response to the opposition over the conversion issue, BJP has demanded bringing of anti-conversion law.<br /></p>