New Delhi: Days after Bihar Minority Welfare Minister Jama Khan said that his ancestors were all Hindu Rajputs but they had accepted Islam, he clarified on Monday that his message was for brotherhood and those who go for forced religious conversion in the state will be punished.
Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Khan said, "There are many people in our country who have accepted Islam and other religions but they weren't forced to convert, they converted voluntarily. People loved the massages by Prophet Mohammad and they accepted Islam, I accepted Islam."
"So, I just gave a message that whoever wants to convert to any religion can do so but it should be voluntarily. If it is forced then legal action will be taken," he added.
The Minister clarified that his message was for brotherhood. "The question was on forced religious conversion. I told them that the people found to be involved in such matters will be punished."
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On being asked that whether the Bihar government is planning to implement any law like the UP government's new population policy, Khan said that the government doesn't have any such plan as of now. "We haven't discussed the issue, our party under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar will discuss and whatever will be decided, we will accept that."
Reacting to the increasing crime against the minorities across the country, the Minister said that no such crime took place in his tenure in the state and there is no fight in the name of caste and religion.
