Bangalore, Jan 18: In the midst of an ongoing debate on conversions, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said it has never been a tradition in the country to convert, "much less to convert by questionable means." In a speech at a world conference on "Spiritual Regeneration and Human Values" on the city outskirts, he said the country's spiritual philosophy was not dogmatic and rigid.

"It accepts and celebrates the good in other traditions," he said, pointing out that this had been "brought to us from the Vedic times."

"It has never been a tradition to convert, much less to convert by questionable means," he told the meet, attended by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh and delegates from across the globe. Bureau Report