The Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) has reiterated its resolve to continue with renewed vigour its “Ghar Wapsi” programme of bringing back the converted Christians and Muslims throughout the country.
Joint Secretary North Karnataka region of the VHP, Mahabaleshwar Hegde told presspersons in Kalaburagi on Monday that Ghar Wapsi was not a new programme, but has been followed from the time of Maratha Warrior Shivaji Maharaj and there was nothing wrong in bringing back those who had “strayed” away back into their parent religion if they come voluntarily without any inducement.
He said that the programme was a continuous affair and the present government at the centre has nothing to do with the VHP programmes. In the past 50 years of VHPs existence more than seven lakh persons have been brought back to Hinduism through the programme.
Mr. Hegde said that the entire Hindu community has accepted the Ghar Wapsi programme and a few political parties were making noises against the programme to retain their vote banks, and “we are not unduly perturbed by the statements of these political parties”.
Besides Ghar Wapsi
He said besides this programme, the VHP has been running single teachers schools in more than 50,000 locations in the country and in Karnataka alone more than 13,000 single teacher schools were being run by the VHP. These schools were located in the tribal areas, which are vulnerable for the conversion activities and acting as a wall between the vulnerable population and those who lured the people to convert to their religions by offering incentives and gifts.
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of VHP, the organisation was holding Virat Hindu Samavesha’s in all the district headquarters and taluk headquarters in the state and in Kalaburagi the Virat Hindu Samavesha scheduled to be held on January 21 would be addressed by its International Working President Praveen Togadia and other senior leaders of the VHP and Bajrang Dal.
District President of the VHP Subash Kamble, Reception Committee Chairman Mallerao Mallya, VHP leader Madhukar Naik and Gangadhar Vishwakarma District President of the Bajrang Dal were present.
