Belgaum, 30 August 2010: Member of Parliament from Uttar Kannada Anantkumar Hegde here on Sunday defended the remarks of Khanapur MLA Prahlad Remani on religious conversion of weaker sections in society by Christian missionaries. Legislator Prahlad Remani had also demanded stringent action against institutions involved in proselytisation.
Addressing the media, Hegde said the opposition is not directed against Christians but against religious conversion of weaker sections of the society by luring them with food, money and other facilities.
Governor H R Bhardwaj’s intervention on the issue is unfair and does not befit the gubernatorial post that he adorns. It appears that the Governor is more interested in appeasing the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, he observed.
Atrocities committed against linguistic minorities have become the pet topics for discussion now. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was also being misguided by the Christian missionaries. Hence, the chief minister has asked the legislator to withdraw his remarks and apologise, said Anantkumar Hegde.
“Religious conversion is a matter of serious concern. Soon we will be sending reports to the chief minister and prime minister demanding stringent action against acts of proselytisation in the State,” he added.