Headlines
Have guts, amend Constitution: Mamata dares BJP
Kolkata, Jan 30
Coming down heavily on forced
religious conversions West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a
veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday, challenged it
to amend the secular Indian Constitution.
"Why should someone
force others to convert? Who gave them that responsibility? Some people
are saying this religion is good, that is bad. Don't ride the rickshaw
pulled by a man of this religion... etc.
"They are controlling
people; they don't know when you are in power you must practice good
governance first. Good governance doesn't mean controlling others. You
can't control anybody's rights.
"Secularism is enshrined in the
Constitution. If you want to do that (control) and if you have the guts
then go and amend the Constitution, change it...," Banerjee said at a
function here.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo's comments
came a day after an FIR was registered against Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) chief Pravin Togadia and functionary Jugal Kishore for hurting
religious sentiments following the alleged conversion of over 100
tribals in West Bengal.
Banerjee said people are using money to convert people.
"What kind of religious conversions? Forcibly some people are indulging in religious conversions by giving money.
"Tribal people are our pride. Why do they have to undergo conversion. They will decide for themselves," she said.
The
TMC had alleged that the VHP conducted a 'ghar wapsi' ceremony at
Kharmadanga village in Rampurhat in the district Wednesday during which
nearly 150 Christians were 'forcibly' converted.
The VHP refuted
the charges of conversion but claimed that a Hindu religious ceremony
was conducted in which over 1,000 people from the village, including
Muslims and Christians took part.
On Mahatma Gandhi's 67th death
anniversary Friday, Banerjee stressed on communal harmony and said there
is an attempt to foment religious tensions in the state.
"The
Indian Constitution doesn't give the right to disrespect others. Indian
Constitution is a secular constitution and tells us to treat religions
equally.
"We are noticing (some people are) triggering a conflict
between one religion and another. Some people are trying to incite
violence and tension among different religions".
She added: "If
someone thinks that now they are in the chair (in power) and will throw
away others, then people will throw away such persons."