Christian MP HT Sangliana defends 'right to convert'

Bangalore North MP HT Sangliana defended conversions and said numerous people abroad in USA and other countries are being converted to Hinduism and Hindu temples being established in their neighborhoods.

Speaking to Journalists in Davangere, Sangliana, a former Police Commissioner of Bangalore, attacked the radical groups including the BJP and RSS, who carried on arson and violence on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka.

He urged Hindus to be broad minded and accept people voluntarily converting to Christianity.

A native of Mizoram state, Sangliana noted that Christians in large numbers are being converted to Hinduism by Hindu movements and ideologies.

He further said: "The police officials have become puppets in the hands of the government and instead of protecting Christians, they are committing atrocities on them. They are politically motivated. If the outfits which allege that foreign money is flowing in to fund the conversions and that forcible conversions are taking place in the state have any proof for the same, let them make it public."

Since the BJP came to power, Sangliana noted, the state has been on a turmoil and law and order situation being made void. The BJP government has supported the activities of Hindutva outfits aiming Christians, he said.

Following the state government's decision to keep a close watch on the Christian MP after statements accusing the CM and the Cabinet was issued, Sangliana said, "He should use police forces to keep a watch on rowdies and not on me."

"They cannot shut my mouth, close my eyes and ears and the effort on the part of government to do this will not succeed," he said, attributing to the fight for justice and freedom of minorities.

Adding that Constitution renders freedom of faith and religion, Sangliana said, "There have been many cases where police or local governing bodies obstructed services or denied protection saying that the license of the church was invalid. This is a false charge, as the churches were registered. Also, as per Article 25 of the Constitution, any individual is free to practice and propagate his/her religion.”


Urging Christians to remain calm and to restrain from taking law into their hands, Sangliana added, "I will continue to fight for the downtrodden and those in need. I am not a leader for the Christians alone or my party. I am always there for people from all sections of religion, party and society."