Taking on its detractors on the conversion of Muslims in Agra, BJP and government today accused them of using an "old card" to target them and said it was for the state authorities to look into the matter.
"There should be no forceful conversion or reconversion. There should be no (no) inducement for conversion or reconversion.....Law and order is a state issue. An attempt is being made to use an old card against us", senior BJP leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters.
Alleging there was an attempt to malign the government, he suggested that such cases should not be looked at with a pre-determined mind.
Naidu's reaction came close on the heels of the issue being echoed in Parliament today with opposition parties alleging that RSS-affiliates were involved in the "illegal" act and demanding strong action.
Members of BSP, Congress, Left parties and Trinamool Congress raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha as soon as the House met for the day. Trinamool Congress members raised the issue in the Lok Sabha.
The government, however, said it is a state subject and Uttar Pradesh government should take action.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in the Upper House that an FIR has been filed by Uttar Pradesh government on the issue.
"Action has to be taken by state government. Law and order is a state issue and the state government has to deal with it. The Centre has no role in that," he said.
He objected to RSS being mentioned in the case saying it was not appropriate to take name of the organisation for "political reasons" and the Chair should expunge the same.
