Existing laws sufficient to prevent forced conversions, says Heptulla

Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla said that the country does not need a new anti-conversion law as there are sufficient laws to deal with the issue. [caption id=“attachment_1687325” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] “There are already so many laws to deal with it. If there is a consensus on bringing another law, it is up to the law-makers. I have to go by what my party line is,” Heptulla said in a freewheeling chat at the Indian Women’s Press Corps in New Delhi on Wednesday, according to The Hindu. Her ministerial colleague Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan had aired similar views on Tuesday. However, the Union minority affairs minister made it clear that she would abide by her party line which favours a new law as of now provided a political consensus is formed. Heptulla also said that there is no need for Prime Minister Narendra Modi “ to intervene every time a controversial statement is made by someone”. “As for the government’s response on the issue, when the prime minister makes a statement from the ramparts of the Red Fort (about moratorium on communal riots), I think he has made himself amply clear and does not need to reiterate it on demand,” said a report in The Indian Express quoting Heptulla. There are rumours doing the rounds that the septuagenarian minority affairs minister may be soon shifted out as a Governor of some state and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will take charge of the ministry.