New Delhi: BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy today revealed that former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had once told him his ancestors were Gaur Brahmins.
Speaking to India TV in parliament premises, Dr Swamy rubbished allegations of Bajrang Dal activists forcibly converting Muslims and Christians to Hindus. "Muslims carry out conversions, Hindus don't", he said.
Another BJP MP and former Bajrang Dal chief Vinay Katiyar today said the family of Omar Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah in Kashmir had Hindu ancestors two to three generations ago.
Reacting to this statement, Rajya Sabha nominated member K T S Tulsi said, such remarks unnecessarily create tension. "Every citizen and every family in India has the freedom to choose one's faith. To say, that even the Sikhs were Hindus several generations ago, is objectionable. Our Constitution has recognized Sikhism as a separate religion."
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said, BJP leaders should not make such controversial remarks in the interest of peace and communal amity.
RJD MP Pappu Yadav demanded a ban on Bajrang Dal, who he alleged, was carrying out religious conversions by force.
NCP MP Majeed Memon alleged that some BJP leaders were trying to polarize society on communal lines.
