STATE TIMES NEWS
Thiruvananthapuram: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday expressed concern over the “orchestrated, financially backed misadventures aimed at effecting conversions” taking place in the country “to secure prowess” and urged everyone to remain vigilant in thwarting them.
Delivering the 4th P Parameswaran Memorial Lecture, organised by the Bharatheeya Vichara Kendra, Dhankhar stated that demographic evolution should be organic and natural. However, if inorganic variations occur, “then we must be alarmed.” “Demography matters. It should not be confused with majoritarianism. We cannot have a society divided into two camps. Demographic evolution must be organic, natural, and harmonious. Only then can it reflect unity in diversity.
“But if demographic variations are brought about like a virtual earthquake, there is cause for concern. If inorganic demographic shifts occur with the intent of increasing a particular demographic component to secure prowess, then we must be alarmed. This is happening. This is noticeably happening,” he claimed.
The Vice President further alleged that conversions were being carried out through various methods, including “allurements, temptations, reaching out to the needy and vulnerable, providing support, and then subtly suggesting a change of religion.” He emphasised that exploiting people’s pain, difficulties, or needs as a means to pull them toward conversion was “intolerable.”
“The country allows everyone the freedom to choose their religion. This is a fundamental right, passed down through our civilisational heritage. But if this right is tampered with or manipulated, it cannot be tolerated. Greed and temptation cannot be the basis for religious conversion,” he said.