Alappuzha (Kerala), Ahmedabad: Sangh Pariwar affiliate the Vishwa Hindu Parishad came under fire on on Sunday as it claimed that it has converted several Christian families ‘into the Hindu fold’ in Kerala and Gujarat as part of the outfit’s ‘Ghar wapsi’ (homecoming) programme.

VHP’s Alappuzha district chief Prathap G. Padickal said that 30 Christians converted at a function held at a local temple in Cheppad Panchayat. Temple administrator S. Sasikumar, however, said that nine persons converted in the function.

“Nobody can call it conversion because the people are coming back to their home ‘dharma’. All we did was to facilitate it. We will continue to do it for those who are interested.”

VHP claimed it organised conversions in Kottayam, Kollam, Ernakulam and Kasargod but didn’t provide the number of people converted.

In Gujarat’s Valsad district, the hardline Hindu outfit cailed to have converted 200 Christian tribal back to the fold of Hinduism. VHP’s state secretary Ajit Solanki however denied using any kind of force or monetary promises, maintaining that the conversions were voluntary.