NEW DELHI
Fascist Hindu organizations, led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have been actively engaged in influencing weak and illiterate Muslims into conversion to Hinduism for more than a decade. They have pinpointed for this purpose far-off places where poverty and illiteracy reign supreme. Muslims here are told, in effect, that ‘your ancestors were Hindus who were forced into Islam by Muslim rulers; now, after the independence of India and the establishment of a Hindu State there is no reason why you should remain Muslims. Instead you should hurry up to join the Hindu ranks and shun alien (ie, Muslim) traditions’.
Employment and other benefits are provided to such converts, while other Indian Muslims pay little attention to the plight of their brothers in such remote places. Muslims should not only strengthen their relations with these brothers-in-faith by opening schools and clinics, digging wells and the like, but they should also work hard on those lured away by financial incentives, and work to win over Hindus of lower classes. The present campaign can only be stopped by a similar Muslim campaign, which should be conducted with wisdom, perseverance and quiet. (Crescent – International July.’92)
