Reports prove Hindus, Christians converted to Islam in Malappuram, alleges Union minister Hansraj Ahir
- Kerala is already beset with the Hadiya love-jihad case
- In the midst of this Union Minister Ahir’s comments are adding fuel to the fire
- He has alleged that a report states that a centre in Malappuram is converting Hindus and Christians into Muslims
FollowUnion Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir has stirred up a hornet’s nest with his comments on conversions in Malapuram. Already Kerala is beset with issues of love-jihad and forced conversions and in the middle of this, stirring the fire is Ahir’s comments.
The minister said that the Kerala government is yet to submit an inquiry report sought by the Centre on alleged religious conversions taking place in Malappuram district.
"There is a big centre...that centre is in Malappuram district (in Kerala)," the minister said alleging, "Conversions take place there. In a month, about 1,000 people are converted. There is a report that Hindus and Christians are made Muslims."
"I went there in May. I had a meeting with DG, ... Chief Secretary. I told them, what is this centre that 1,000 (people) are converted in a month. On what basis? Do they take advantage of poverty, give warnings, talk about employment. What do they do? Find out. The matter is coming out," Ahir told PTI reporters.
The minister made these comments in Hyderabad when he was there to attend a meeting of the Telangana unit of the BJP. He was questioned on the ongoing Hadiya case and how the NIA is now carrying on the investigation in to the ‘love-jihad’ case. Instead of commenting on the same, he made these allegations on forced conversions in Kerala.
The matter of forced conversions in the state gained ground and has been steadily in the news since the Kerala High Court declared the marriage of a woman as 'null and void' in a case that has seen the bride's father claiming that his daughter was converted to Islam at the behest of the Islamic State. The Kerala High Court declared marriage of Akhila alias Hadiya with Shafeen Jahan, a native of Kollam "null and void" on the grounds that bride's parents were "not present or given consent" for the marriage.
Last year, an intelligence report prepared by Kerala’s state police had recognised two conversion centres in Kozhikode (or Calicut) and Malappuram which has converted people to Islam over these years. Times of India claims to have access to this report. However, investigation is still on as to declare these findings completely accurate. Now with the NIA in the probe, the court is expecting some answers.
