Mass conversion planned in Ayodhya

Reports of proposed mass conversion programme by saffron outfits in communally sensitive Ayodhya town in Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad district, about 125 km from here, have triggered alarm bells in the district administration.

According to the reports, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is planning to hold a “big ghar vapasi” (mass homecoming) programme at the temple town next month. VHP leaders said 4,000 people, who had left Hinduism in the past for one or other reason, would return home during the programme, to be organised by a senior VHP leader.

VHP leaders refused to reveal their strategy fearing action by the district administration but they claimed that people of other faith (mostly Muslims) from the neighbouring districts of Baharaich, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Gonda and other places would take part in the programme.

“It is going to be a massive programme,” they said.  “There is no force nor is there any allurement.”

The district administration, however, made it clear that it would under no circumstances allow any such programme. “We will not allow any one to foment trouble and tension in the area,” said a senior UP Police official here.

Earlier also the VHP had planned similar mass conversion programmes in several parts of the state but it later deferred them in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi on Thursday.

Meanwhile, saffron outfits have decided to launch a mass awareness programme in Agra district to prevent, what they call, the attempt by the missionary organizations to encourage conversion of Hindus.

Saffron leaders also held a panchayat at Rehan Kala village in Agra district and cautioned people against those luring them into conversion.