BJP leaders dismiss Togadia's statement on conversion

Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party made it clear that the party does not subscribe to the views expressed by Dr Pravin Togadia, International general secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, who said at Ahmedabad that those who convert Hindus should be beheaded. Surprisingly, none of them were willing to go on record.

"Togadia is a mad cat. How can our party subscribe to such an outrageous demand? In a civilized society such statements are provocative for those who feel that they are unnecessarily being targeted," said BJP member of Rajya Sabha who once edited the party's Hindi weekly.

Another senior leader of the party told rediff.com that such statements are not even worth commenting on.

Togadia made the statement at the end of the three-day Akhil Bharatiya dharmaprsaran karyakarta sammelan. This is not the first time Togadia has made such a provocative statement.

"Togadia is a rabid communalist who keeps on doing such things. I would urge the government of India to take appropriate action against him," said D Raja of the Communist Party of India.

Father Babu Joesph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, urged the Union home ministry to take action against Pravin Togadia. "One is not shocked by his statement but it is definitely worrisome. This is totally unacceptable," he said.