Conversion by foreigners alleged

Hyderabad: The State BJP has alleged that persons from Canada and US were organising religious conversions among girijans and dalits, mostly in Nalgonda district, and demanded their immediate arrest and deportation.

Party vice-president S.V. Seshagiri Rao, secretary N.V.S.S. Prabhakar and legal cell convener Ramchander Rao alleged at a press conference here on Wednesday that the foreigners had made Nagarjunasagar and Miryalguda their bases. They were visiting `lambada’ thandas and villages and offering free medical treatment, housing, education and Rs. 100 a day for people to convert.

Several teams

The BJP leaders alleged that about 4,000 persons were converted in 30 villages of Chilakurthi and Peddavoora mandals in Nalgonda district and in Macherla mandal, Guntur district. Similarly, 2,000 persons were converted in Nidamanooru, Anumola and Gurrampodu mandals in Nalgonda district. The 68 foreigners, divided into several teams, were visiting villages with the help of locals.

The leaders said the issue had been brought to the notice of Nalgonda Collector and alleged that local police had refused to register a complaint. They demanded that the Government take action against officials who remained indifferent to the problem.

Referring to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam’s move to have its own satellite channel, they urged it to drop the proposal, saying it would be a waste of money.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/26/stories/2006102606800400.htm