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Mystery over VHP's conversion of Muslim family

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Mystery continues to prevail over the reported conversion of six Muslims on July 2 by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The VHP claimed that six Muslims -- Munna Jamadar, his wife and four kids -- embraced Hinduism willingly. The yagna (purification ceremony) was telecast on a local Bengali news bulletin.

VHP satraps are upset by the use of the word 'conversion'. They argue that Munna and his family were 'originally lower caste Hindus who were converted to Islam forcibly'.

The outfit has taken Munna and his family to an unknown hideout, citing danger to their lives. The VHP refused to speak to the press after that. Attempts by rediff.com to contact VHP leaders were futile.

The police say they cannot initiate criminal action till they receive a complaint from the family. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters) Nazrul Islam told rediff.com that ' it is not possible to take action in the absence of any complaint of forceful conversion.'

Officials from the local Amherst Street police station were quick to visit the Arya Samaj Pratinidhi Sabha after the news broke. By that time, the VHP had succeeded in whisking away Munna and his family.

The building now wears a deserted look. A priest of Arya Samaj Mandir, which is nearby, told rediff.com that Munna hailed from Malda and had settled in Calcutta's Metiaburz area. He did not know Munna's address. All he could say was that Munna was christened Ashish Das by the VHP leaders during the ceremony.

A local VHP leader Ajay Nandi reluctantly agreed to make a brief comment on the issue. He was furious when asked whether his organisation had used terror tactics or material incentives while converting Munna and his family.

"Why is there a furore when a Muslim has willingly embraced Hinduism. Why do reporters keep quiet when Christian and Muslim organisations convert Hindus by luring them with money and other incentives?" he asked.

"Munna willingly came back to the Hindu fold, where he once belonged. So why the fuss over a purification ceremony. You should stop using the word conversion. Munna and his family have only returned to their original religion," Nandi said.

However, critics say the 'conversion' is a ploy by the VHP to derive publicity in West Bengal, where its presence is almost non-existent.

In March this year, the outfit claimed it had converted over 250 Santhal-Christians in Birbhoom district to Hinduism. However, this correspondent found nothing of that sort when he visited the area. The VHP had just organised a puja to mark the inauguration of a Shiva temple it had constructed.

Several Congress MLAs wasted no time in raising the matter in the state assembly and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

However, the imam of Nakhoda mosque, Maulana Mohammed Sabir, said that he had no objection if Munna and his family had embraced Hinduism willingly.

"The Constitution allows us to choose religions of our choice. So one should not raise an unnecessary hue and cry on conversions done willfully. But if the conversion was done under duress, the government must take action," Sabir remarked.

Even Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said that she was opposed to forceful conversion. She, however, refused to comment on the issue.

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