Body of Hindu saints will focus on conversions now

Lucknow: The “Dharam Sansad” that will meet in Allahabad during the Kumbh Mela in January next year, will now focus on conversion instead of Ram temple.

Over 200 top saints and seers from across the country will participate in the “Dharam Sansad”, the highest decision-making body of Hindu saints.

Mahant Panchanan Giri, of Juna Akhara and also the head of the Kanakhya Devi temple, told this correspondent that conversion was emerging as a major problem in the North East.

“The Akhara Parishad has decided to send groups of saints to the North East states and convince Hin-dus against conversions.  Nearly 350 saints from the north eastern part of the country have been invited to the Dharam Sansad where discussions in this regard will take place,” he said.

He said that saints who travel to north-eastern states to check conversions, will primarily face the problem of language. “We will resolve the issue by ensuring interpreters from the local regions,” he said.

The Mahant said that in June this year, saints from 13 Akharas had attended the famous Ambubachi Mela at the Kamakhya temple and the decision to counter the problem of conversion was taken there. The Dharam Sansad at the 2019 Kumbh Mela assumes significance because the scale of the Kumbh Mela will be the biggest ever and all eyes will be focused on what happens there.

Meanwhile, sources said that the decision of the saints to focus on conversions now is designed to give respite to the Modi government on the Ram temple issue.

BJP president Amit Shah had met saints and seers in Allahabad last week and held meetings with them on various issues.