Opposition Places BJP in the Dock on Conversions

New Delhi: Christmas Day and Conversions brought proceedings in the Rajya Sabha to a halt as the Opposition placed the government on the back foot while demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the “explosive situation being created in the country.”

The last week of Parliament is being overtaken by the Opposition parties with the Trinammol Congress starting Monday with black shawls in protest against the reported misuse of the Central Bureau of Investigation by the central government.

In the Rajya Sabha the Opposition was on its feet protesting against what senior members like CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury said was a decision by the Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani to cancel the Christmas Day holiday for schools. The protest extracted an explanation from the government with Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assuring the members that they had been told by the Minister that there was no CBSE circular asking the schools to remain open on December 25 to observe “Good Governance Day.” The government said that the essay competition announced was only on line. However, the explanation did not convince the Opposition members.

The Opposition members unitedly pointing out that opening schools on Christmas was to hurt the sentiments of the minorities. “We are a secular democratic country. Is this good governance? “ they asked. The members trooped into the well forcing an adjournment of the House.

The second issue was first raised by Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma who said he had given a notice under rule 267 for suspension of business to discuss the forced conversions being carried out by RSS affiliates. “It is a very serious issue,” he said pointing to “coordinated” efforts to polarise the people on communal lines. "An explosive situation is being created in the country," he said.

Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said the Opposition was worried over the prevailing situation in the country and cautioned that there could be an atmosphere of anarchy.

The RSS, BJP and the front organisations have not retracted from the announced plan for mass conversions on December 25 in Aligarh district. Despite the protest in Parliament, there has been no let up in this plan that is creating tremendous tension in the districts of western Uttar Pradesh ever since the 200 poorest of the poor Muslims were “converted” to Hinduism by the same outfits in a village in the Agra district of western Uttar Pradesh.