Prayagraj: After raising the pitch for introduction of a two-child norm in the country, Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) — the apex body of the 13 akharas (religious orders) — has summoned an urgent meeting of all the 13 akharas to decide on the steps to be taken to check religious conversions.
The development comes close on the heels of the arrest of two persons on charges of converting over 1,000 persons.
ABAP president Narendra Giri said, “Not only external factors, there are fault-lines within us also.
We have to find a solution and provide an equal opportunity to all so that such incidents could be stopped.” “Experiences have shown us that those who have been neglected in the mainstream or those who have been treated as outcasts, tend to take refuge in other religions.
We will request the Hindus to rise above the considerations of caste and treat everyone with dignity, share mutual respect and avoid circumstances wherein someone changes his or her religion,” Narendra Giri told TOI on Wednesday.
He added, “Soon, a meeting of the representatives of all the13 akharas would be held and the only agenda would be to ask out disciples and common Hindus to rise above the caste system and mull over steps for bringing back to the fold those who have changed their religion.” Agreeing to Narendra Giri, chief patron of Juna Akhara — the largest of 13 akharas in terms of membership — Hari Giri said, “We have always advocated welcoming back those who have switched over to other religions.
Seers and disciples would be given the task to make the people aware of rising above the narrow considerations of caste system as Juna Akhara and for that matter even ABAP does not believe in it.
An example of this belief is that even dalits have been coronated as mahamandaleshwars.” The decision of the ABAP comes close on the heels of its earlier stand advocating introduction of a legal draft for population control.
Narendra Giri, in a press statement had said that the seers have always demanded that the ever-increasing population in the country should be controlled.
He had said that under the Population Control Act, it should be ensured that couples, irrespective of their religion, should have only two children.
He said that if the population growth in the country is not stopped by bringing a law, then there may be a big population explosion in the coming days.
Giri has appealed to all that keeping faith and loyalty in the country, every family should have only two children.