Source: Press Trust of India
NEW DELHI, INDIA, August 19, 2001: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday said there was a “conversion motive” behind the welfare activities being carried out by some Christian missionaries in the country’s backward areas and that it was “not proper,” though conversion was permissible under the law. Speaking at a function here to release a book on a prominent RSS activist, Vajpayee said Christian missionaries were engaged in laudable social work, “though some have a conversion motive, which is not proper.” He, however, added that the Christians had a right to practice and preach their religion. Referring to abduction and recent killing of four RSS activists by insurgents in the Northeast, Vajpayee regretted that the media gave very little coverage to their “sacrifice.” “The RSS activists had gone there to serve the people. I was sad to learn that their sacrifice went unnoticed. Had the news been about Christian missionaries, it would have been widely covered. The media’s attitude should change,” the Prime Minister said.