Ban any religious conversions by force or money: Union Minister Vijay Sampla

Union Minister Vijay Sampla on Sunday sought a strict law that will be deterrent to religious conversions by way of force or monetary consideration.

"There should be a stringent law to ban religious conversions by fraud, force or monetary consideration," Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said.  Sampla called for support of all political parties saying the presence of a strict law will be deterrent for such conversions. The minister also said after the formation of BJP government at the Centre, the situation at the international borders along India had considerably improved.

"When UPA was in power at the Centre, there were frequent incursions at the border and a large number of ceasefire violations took place. But now our government is strong enough to give befitting reply for any misadventure at the borders," he said.

He described the reports of difference between SAD and BJP in Punjab as media creation and said both the parties would contest the next assembly polls jointly. Asked about summoning of Punjab Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a drug case, Sampla said mere summons or questioning did not mean that one was involved in the wrongdoing.

"If anybody has done wrong, he or she should be punished," he said adding, "wait till the enquiry is completed." Sampla launched a calendar published by the SC Morcha of the BJP.