New Delhi: Condemning the conversion of a large number of Muslims in Agra, CPI(M) on Thursday said forced conversion was a criminal offence and will lead to communal tensions across the country.
The party also demanded that the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government should take strong action to prosecute those involved.
"The RSS-BJP leaders have declared their intent to organise similar conversions of Muslims and Christians in Ghazipur, Aligarh and other places in Uttar Pradesh. Such type of conversions using force and intimidation will lead to communal tensions across the country," the party Politburo said in a statement here.
It said the religious conversion of around 300 Muslims, mostly poor migrants from Bihar and West Bengal, was carried out in Agra "through false enticement, force and intimidation by the RSS-BJP."
"Such forced conversions are criminal offences and all those indulging in or encouraging such religious conversions should be prosecuted," it said, adding that the state government and the Centre should take firm steps to stop such conversions.
