VHP to organise 'ghar wapasi' in Sonia Gandhi's constituency

Lucknow: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Monday announced its plan to organise a 'Ghar Wapasi' (home coming) programme in Rae Bareli, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's parliamentary constituency.

VHP's Rae Bareli district unit chief Harish Chandra Sharma said the saffron group has identified 60 families who were ready for 'home coming'. There was no allurement or coercion in the process, Sharma added.

He also said some "pseudo-secular" parties and politicians were trying to give "ghar wapasi" a communal colour though it was a simple and consistent work done by the VHP and its affiliates.

The VHP leader said the group plans to conduct "ghar wapasi" of about 100 families and as soon as this target is met, a date would be announced for the re-conversion to Hinduism.

The district administration, however, said the state government has made it clear that such events cannot be allowed. "So far, we are not aware of any such move, in case something comes to our notice, we will act," a district official told IANS.

Saffron organisations in the past few days have intensified their the "home coming" programme, specially after a successful mass conversion in Agra.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party legislator Zameerullah launched a helpline and set up a control room in Aligarh to keep a vigil on such events.