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The Bharatiya Janata Party may try to distance itself from the 'reconversion' controversy in Agra, which has also led to explosive debates in Parliament -but a letter by an organisation associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh openly asking for monetary to help with this operation has only made the matter worse.

A letter purportedly from  Rajeshwar Singh, the local area president of Dharm Jagran Committee, an RSS wing in Agra, clearly asks for monetary help for the ‘ghar wapasi’ agenda and claims to have ‘reconverted’ 40,000 Muslims and Christians in western Uttar Pradesh last year.

The letter is reportedly doing the rounds in Aligarh, where the RSS had planned a ‘reconversion’ ceremony on December 25.

'Fooled': Sofeya, 80, is a resident of Agra’s Ved Nagar colony. Close to 60 Muslims families from the slum were allegedly ‘reconverted’ during a ceremony

Security: UP Police imposed Section 144 in Agra following the conversions to avoid communal tensions leading to riots. Some members of the Congress and BSP had come out to protest, but the police detained 20 Youth Congress supporters

Funds: Members of Hindu organisations perform a ceremony for the conversion of Muslim families in Agra. A letter by Rajeshwar Singh, the local area president of Dharm Jagran Committee, clearly asks for money for the ‘ghar wapasi’ agenda 

His letter added that the target for this year is the re-conversion of a total of one lakh Muslims and Christians in 50 ‘ghar wapasi’ ceremonies.

And what has put the Sangh in an embarrassing position is that the letter even quotes the price tag for the ceremonies.

According to the letter, which asks for volunteers and the general public to contribute towards the event: “The annual expenditure on a volunteer who works to convert Muslims is about Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh to work on Christian families.” 

Close to 60 Muslims families from Agra’s Ved Nagar slums were allegedly ‘reconverted’ during a ceremony.

While the families have claimed that they were fooled and later threatened to follow the rituals to ‘reconvert’, the Bajrang Dal and Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, another RSS body, have maintained that the people willingly converted.

“I don’t know where they have gone. All I know that some 20 people left the area last night and some packed their belongings and left this morning,” said Md.

Mittu Khondokar, one of the residents. Mohammed Akram Qureshi, Agra president of Rashtriya Sardalya Muslim Committee, said they would lodge an FIR against the Bajrang Dal and other leaders who were involved in the alleged reconversion.

Meanwhile, Satish Gautam, the BJP MP from Aligarh, has welcomed the announcement in the letter and said: “If people are ready to embrace Hinduism on their own accord and in a peaceful manner, then they are fully within their rights to exercise their choice.”

Following the incident, Section 144 has been imposed in Agra.

Some members of the Congress and BSP had come out to protest but the police swung into action and detained some 20 Youth Congress supporters.

The Agra police also went to the local RSS office to arrest Kishore Valmiki, an accused named in a complaint filed against the reconversion.

And later, community leader Ismail was also taken to the police station for further investigation.

Residents of the slum colony in Agra’s Ved Nagar are now afraid since they find themselves between a rock and a hard place.

“Just chant the name of Allah all day. Follow your faith. Tell the people you can never be converted. You all are true Muslims,” said Md Sharif Qureshi, while the women around cry over their unknown future.

Opposition unites against Government in House  

By Amit Agnihotri 

A debate on religious conversions reached a flashpoint on Thursday in the Lok Sabha when Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, facing a backlash over the conduct of saffron outfits, said he was proud of his RSS background provoking the opposition parties to walk out in protest.

“I feel proud that I have the RSS background.... RSS is a great organisation in the country,” Naidu said while replying to a debate on the recent conversion of around 300 Muslims in downtown Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

The issue of forced conversions in Agra rocked both Houses where a united Oppostion targeted the Government for playing communal politics and pressed for a clarification from PM Narendra Modi.

“It is the Government’s responsibility to protect the Constitution. Look at the environment today. People have forced Muslims to eat during Ramzan, Sania Mirza was called Pakistani Bahu. Are these Acche Din?” Congress chief whip Jyotiraditya Scindia asked.

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy said: “Hundred small and big riots have taken place.

“The Muzaffarnagar riots were for political benefits. You wanted power? You got power. Now it is your responsibility to see that everybody in the country can live peacefully.”

NCP MP Tariq Anwar joined in by saying that forcible conversions were unconstitutional.

The Opposition also asked the Government to explain the statements of its own MPs, who called the conversions “ghar wapasi” or a homecoming.

“You have two Muslim ministers. How would you feel if they were asked to go back home,” MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi asked the Prime Minister.