5 Muslim families in Agra ‘convert’ for better future

More cases of ‘conversion’ were reported from Agra on Friday with five Muslim families apparently embracing Hinduism. The incident took place on Christmas. Seventeen individuals across five families attended a ‘havan’ that converted them into Hindus near Agra.

More cases of ‘conversion’ were reported from Agra on Friday with five Muslim families apparently embracing Hinduism. The incident took place on Christmas. Seventeen individuals across five families attended a ‘havan’ that converted them into Hindus near Agra.

The families said they had converted with the hopes of a better future since other religious leaders ‘did not pay any heed to us’.

“Those converted deny any pressure exerted on them and claim that they converted to Hinduism on their will,” the sub-divisional magistrate said.

“We contacted one Lav Pandit, a social worker living in a village Nagla Brahman nearby, and exhibited our willingness to convert to Hinduism,” said Arif, who has acquired new name as Ravi.

However, most of those ‘converted’ were holding voter ID cards in their Hindu names even prior to their ‘conversion’. “We had been known by both Hindu and Muslim names but used to offer namaz till our conversion on Thursday,” claimed Ravi.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Minorities on Friday said it was concerned over lack of action against people making “irresponsible” comments on conversion issue and that any law against conversion would go against the constitution.