Conversion & cow slaughter should be banned in the land of Jagannath; Sants demand at VHP’s Chintan Baithak in Odisha

BHUBANESHWAR: Cow slaughter and Conversion activities by Christian missionaries should be completely banned in the holy land of Bhagwan Jagannath. These demands were made by Sants coming from all across the state in the Sant  Chintan Baithak organised by Vishva Hindu Parishad in Puri during the Sri Jagannath Yatra today. Prominent sants like Paramhansa Swami Prajnanananda and Swami Shankarananda were also in this meeting chaired by Swami Jivanmuktanand Ji Maharaj. More than Two hundred sants were present at the meeting.

Talking to Organiser VHP Zonal Co-Secretary Gauri Prasad Rath, said that rampant cow slaughter and cow smuggling in Odisha were discussed in detail in the Chintan Baithak. Sants expressed concern over the inaction of the administration to curb this. The sants were of the view that the Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act is in force to stop cow slaughter in Odisha. Along with this, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is also in force in the state. There are also laws regarding the transportation of cows. But unfortunately, these laws are not being implemented properly. This is the reason why cases of cow slaughter and cow smuggling are increasing in the state. Sants have demanded that these laws should be strictly implemented.

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In the Chintan Baithak sants also expressed deep concern over the conversion being carried out by Christian missionaries in the state. Sants said that Odisha was one of the first states to make laws to stop illegal conversions. Odisha Freedom of Religion Act 1967 prohibits conversions through allurement, fraud, and other unlawful means. However, this law is not being implemented properly by the administration. So the incidents of conversion are increasing. He said  Sants demanded that Govt must strictly implement this law and take strict action against the missionaries who convert people illegally. The sants also reiterated their demand for a CBI inquiry into the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati.

Vishva Hindu Parishad state secretary Mahesh Sahu gave the welcome speech in the program. Vishwa Hindu Parishad central Secy  Sudhanshu Patnaik thanked the saints in the end.