Monday, April 17 2006 12:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tirupati (AP): Senior BJP leader L K Advani today (Apr 17, 2006) said there has been a spurt in systematic religious conversions in the past few years and national and state level legislations should be introduced to prohibit conversions through inducement or coercion.

"We strongly condemn the campaign of proselytisation which poses a grave threat to Hindu society. We demand stern action against those who indulge in such activities," he told reporters in the temple town before leaving for electioneering in Tamil Nadu, rounding off the first leg of his 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra' in Andhra Pradesh covering Anantapur and Chitoor districts in backward Railseema region.

Advani also offered prayers at Tirumala abode of Lord Venketeswaram.

Chosing the famous pilgrim centre to raise the issue of, what he called, "Organised foreign funded conversion campaign by evangelical groups", he said such a campaign is a threat to national integration and to the Hindu society.

"It is bad enough that religious conversions are conducted in a systematic manner through inducements and coercions. But such activities acquire an extra edge of ominousness when they are facilitated by foreign funded organisations ostensibly under the garb of social service for poor and under-privileged families," the BJP leader said.