Central Joint General Secretary of VHP Surendra Jain (File Photo)

New Delhi [India], November 15 (ANI): After the Supreme Court showed concern over the ‘forced religious conversions’, Central Joint General Secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) Surendra Jain on Tuesday urged the Centre to bring a law to stop illegal conversions in the country.

Speaking to ANI, Jain said, “Various incidents that happened across the country and also the commissions formed on this subject say quite loudly and clearly that illegal conversion is a threat to the fundamental right to religious freedom and national security.”

The Supreme Court on Monday gave a clear warning that if this is not stopped, then a dangerous situation will be created for the country.

The SC said that religious conversions by means of force, allurement or fraud may “ultimately affect the security of the nation and freedom of religion and conscience of citizens” while directing the Centre to “step in” and clarify what it intends to do to curb compulsory or deceitful religious conversions.

“There may be freedom of religion but there may not be freedom of religion by forced conversion… This is a very serious issue. Everybody has the right to choose their religion, but not by forced conversion or by giving temptation,” the apex court said.

The VHP leader further said that the Judiciary had in many cases earlier also stressed the need for a central law on illegal conversions.

“It has become a clear time and again that conversion done by force, fraud and allurement is illegal, but in the absence of a clear law, the plotters and connivers could not be punished,” he said.

This story was originally published in theprint.in . Read the full story here