Forced religious conversions are wrong: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Friday said that it is wrong to convert people to another religion by force or by offering various temptations.

He said that self-sacrifice and faith in religion can be awakened through the celebration of Veer Bal Diwas.

Dr Saha said this while participating in the Veer Bal Diwas celebration organised at Gurudwara Sahib in Chanmari, Agartala, today.

Speaking at the event, Dr Saha said that the main purpose of Veer Bal Diwas is to convey that religion is for everyone.

“It is wrong to convert people to another religion by force or by showing various temptations. We can see that this is happening in different places. Inhuman torture has been inflicted on Pandits in Kashmir. Before Partition, the situation was similar. After Partition, East Pakistan was formed, and later Bangladesh came into existence. The population of Hindus, Sikhs, and other minority communities in West Pakistan has now decreased significantly,” he said.

Dr Saha said that this issue is being discussed in detail and that articles are being written in newspapers and magazines.

“We must remember this on Veer Bal Diwas and think about how to build social resistance against such practices and raise our voice on this issue at national and international levels. In January 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’. Since then, the day has been observed with special dignity across the country on December 26 every year,” he said.

He further stated that the main aim of celebrating the day is to ensure that the next generation draws inspiration from the values of courage, sacrifice, and morality.

“Through this, lessons can be learned on building confidence among the youth, understanding how to make sacrifices, and strengthening faith in oneself, in religion, and in the nation. Veer Bal Diwas is not just about watching or listening to history; it helps awaken faith in self-sacrifice and religion. We should learn from Bir Bal Diwas,” Dr Saha said.

Dr Saha also mentioned that if young children are given proper education, many qualities can be found in them that are often lacking even in adults.

The event was attended by Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Dipak Majumdar, along with other prominent figures from the Sikh community.