The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) plans to re-convert Christians in Goa and is in the middle of an expansion drive in the state, a VHP leader said here Friday.

Ahead of VHP's golden jubilee function in the state, Dada Bedak, secretary in-charge of the Satsang (Spiritual Discourse) division, told IANS that the senior leaders would discuss issues like re-conversion and love jihad and how to approach them in next 50 years.

"Thousands of our brothers were converted to Christianity due to Portuguese oppression. We will, of course, make efforts to bring them back to the Hindu fold once we strengthen our organisation here. Our aim is straight and clean," Vedak said.

He, however, said the VHP would reach out to Christians, converted during the Portuguese regime, with "love and affection".

Goa, a former Portuguese colony, has a population of 1.5 million of which 26 percent are Christians.

Asked if the VHP would would take the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Goa to strengthen network in Goa, Vedak said: "We can't get help for this.

"We don't want to take any help (from the government) either for the organisation, but if we are building a temple then of course we will go to the government," he added.

VHP calls Kandhamal shutdown over ban on Togadia

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a 12-hour shutdown in Odisha's Kandhamal district Saturday to protest the ban on the entry of its top leader Pravin Togadia into the region, a leader said Friday.

"We have called for a total shutdown in the district. However, the emergency services will continue as usual," VHP leader Bhagaban Mohanty told IANS.

"The administration is maintaining a double standard. While it had allowed Christian missionaries to hold meetings in the region, it is restricting a Hindu leader which is most unfortunate," he said.

Togadia was scheduled to address a gathering of VHP supporters at Phulbani, the district headquarters town of Kandhamal, Feb 28. Authorities Thursday imposed a ban on his entry to the district after apprehension that it might disturb the peace in the area.

At least 38 people were killed and thousands had to flee their homes following widespread communal violence in the region in 2008 after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.

Different Christian groups had moved the local and state administration seeking a ban on the proposed visit of Togadia, saying his fiery speeches might upset the fragile peace between communities.