Tejasvi Surya Does ‘Ghar Wapsi’, Withdraws Hate Statement Against Muslims And Christians, After Uproar

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who called for a ‘Ghar Wapsi’ or conversion of Muslims and Christians to the Hindu fold, tweeted on Monday that he “unconditionally” withdraws his remarks that he made a day earlier, as it has created an “avoidable controversy.”

Just days after several prominent Hindu priests and BJP leaders called for other Hindus to arm themselves and kill Muslims, Surya, had called for the conversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism.

Speaking at a programme of Sri Krishna Mutt in Udupi, Karnataka on Saturday, 25 December, Surya said, “All mutts should take the initiative to bring back people from other religions to Hinduism.” He said the work of preventing religious conversion and bringing back those who had converted from Hinduism to other religions should happen on a ‘war-footing’.

“At a program held in Udupi Sri Krishna Mutt two days ago, I spoke on the subject of ‘Hindu Revival in Bharat’. Certain statements from my speech has regrettably created an avoidable controversy. I therefore unconditionally withdraw the statements,” Surya said on Twitter.

Surya, a well-known Islamophobe, said temples and mutts must set “yearly targets” to bring Muslims and Christians back to the Hindu faith.

He further said that “there are people who belonged to Hinduism but were converted to Islam or Christianity. It is our duty to bring these people back into the fold of Hinduism. Also, Hindus in Pakistan who were converted to Islam should be brought back into the fold.”

Surya’s statements come at a time when the state has witnessed massive protests over The Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, commonly referred to as the anti-conversion Bill, which has been passed in the Assembly, despite opposition from the opposition Congress and JD(S), Christians, Muslims and civil society groups. The BJP government alleges the Bill aims to prohibit “unlawful conversions” from one religion to another.