Religious conversion is a “destructive termite infestation”: Home Minister Araga Jnanendra

Mangaluru: Karnataka home minister Aaraga Jnanendra on December 25 equated religious conversion to a “termite infestation that destroys a good tree.”

Speaking to reporters at the Mangaluru International Airport after his arrival on Saturday morning, the minister said “The religious and cultural framework of our country (India) teaches to love all religions. Such a religious framework is not found anywhere else in the world. But the culture is dying due to religious conversion which has infested it the way termites destroy a good tree.”

The minister welcomed the passage of the recently introduced anti-Conversion bill in the Karnataka Vidhana Sabha. “We should all think about it beyond the party. We should think about the reasons behind bringing the anti-conversion legislation,” he said adding that  “Opposition to this (the bill) was unnecessary.”

He also said that society is being divided on the basis of religion. “Politicians need to think about this. It is but natural that objections are raised. But work can’t be stopped just because of objections are raised.”

He defended the police action saying that the police had handled the riots at Uppinangady efficiently. “The police will continue to handle clashes between the communities efficiently,” he said.