'Ghar wapsi' is divisive, detrimental to peace

Earlier this week, the Telangana chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao, laid the foundation of a Christian Bhavan, at a time when most parts of the country are reeling under the 'homecoming' campaign unleashed by right-wing Hindu nationalist forces for Muslims and Christians.
Not one to be left behind, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, whose TDP is an ally of the BJP, too has now decided to build Christian Bhavans __ not one but two.Clearly, both the CMs are well aware of the strong presence of Christian voters in their respective states!
So, even as the BJP, by allowing its Sangh Parivar members to go ahead with 'ghar wapsi', is trying to consolidate its Hindu vote bank in preparation for the elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states, it seems to be of little concern to Naidu or KCR.
In fact Babu, on the contrary, appears to be following right in the footsteps of erstwhile AP's late chief minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who projected himself as a leader who cared about the progress of Christians and Muslims. On the other hand, Rao, being the astute politician that he is, knows well the importance of keeping the two large minority groups on friendly terms with his TRS, lest they be lured back by the Congress in the future.
In Punjab too, chief minister Prakash Singh Badal has declared that his government would construct Masihi (Christian) Bhavans in every district of the state. His Akali Dal, an ally of the BJP, is upset over the conversion of Dalit Christians to Sikhism by the Sangh Parivar.
But then, there are several other states where the chilly winter of 2014 has turned unbearably 'hot' for Muslims and Christians; where they have started feeling insecure. And that's because, Narendra Modi, who rode to power on the promise of economic development, is silent over this aggressive 'bringing the Muslims and Christians back into the Hindu fold' drive by other members of his BJP family. His silence has unsettled the minorities.
Worse, the Prime Minister has gone one step further and declared Christmas Day, which also happens to be the birthday of former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as Good Governance Day. Many people feel that the move diluted the spirit of Christmas with several central government institutions launching new schemes and holding conferences on the importance of good governance on December 25. Modi himself took part in several programmes in Varanasi on Christmas Day.
Beginning with the incident of re-conversion or the 'homecoming' of about 200 Muslims in Agra earlier this month there seems to be no respite in sight for this minority community. The Christians who form only about 2.5% of the total 1.2 billion population of India appear to be more perturbed. Being fewer in number, they have become easy targets.
It is said that the Sangh Parivar wants the entire nation to comprise Hindus by 2021.
Article 25(1) of the Constitution of India guarantees the "right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion", without recourse to coercion or inducement of money or other benefits. The makers of the Constitution have debated threadbare before incorporating this Article into the coveted document. But the BJP government wishes to turn this Article over and bring about an anti-conversion law that will prohibit persons from choosing one religion or the other with free will. In fact, in five states including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, efforts are underway for the last few years to put such a law into practice.
The Muslims and Christians appear to be in a state of shock and have not come up with any plan to counter the new wave of conversions. But those Indians who believe in the liberal and secular democratic norms of the country have begun to register protest.
Recently in Hyderabad, a Sikh woman has become Christian and her Hindu husband a Muslim. "This is our way of protesting against Sangh Parivar's blitzkrieg of making Christians and Muslims, Hindus," they said seeking anonymity.
Analysts believe that the 'ghar wapsi' campaign will divide the people, create tension and may lead to violence. A nation that is not at peace with itself cannot achieve the dream of a developed nation.