Modi quotes Mahatma, slams religious conversion

MODI CONVERT: Gujarat Chief Minister says Mahatma Gandhi was against conversions.

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New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has flayed the attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka but linked the violence to religious conversion.

“Any activity which violates the law must be strongly condemned and everybody has done that but to remove the root cause of the problem we will have to follow Mahatma Gandhi’s advice,” said Modi in an interview to Network18.

“Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed religious conversions in the country. His words should be brought before the people. The funds coming into the country should be checked,” he said referring to allegations that missionaries in India were getting help from international evangelist organisations.

The Chief Minister was speaking about the communal violence in Orissa and Karnataka for which minority groups have blamed the Bajrang Dal, an affiliate of the Sangh Parivar.

Modi rejected allegations that Justice G T Nanavati commission’s report on the Godhra train burning of February 2002 was biased in his favour and insisted that didn’t have any role in the panel’s findings.

“The judges on the commission were recommended by the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Gujarat.”

The commission, which presented the first part of its report on September 25, has concluded there is no evidence to show that either Modi or his council of ministers had played any role in the burning of Sabarmati Express in Godhra.

Modi, who has earned praise for his handling of the situation after serial blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26, said terrorists must be paid back in their coin. “I am very clear: terrorists must be dealt with severely. Enth ka jawab pathar hona chayiye,” he said. (Terrorists must get what they deserve.)