'I Owe Everything To The Church. It Educated Me.'

How do you react to the prime minister's suggestion for a national debate on conversions?
How can a prime minister make such a statement without any basis? Look at the facts. The Christian population, according to the census, is going down. In Kerala, it has fallen. In the northeast, it is static. If there is a sudden increase, I can understand. On the other hand, it has fallen. The prime minister is just being pressurised by the Sangh parivar. I know Vajpayee as a reasonable man. The church has welcomed the debate; let the country know the facts. In a nation of one billion, we are just 2 per cent.
The church has a very proud record of dedicated service to the nation in education, medical care and service to the poor. Why has it become a target of attack and atrocity? What disturbs me is that the secular image of the country is being tarnished. India will get further isolated internationallyit already is after the nuclear testsand we cannot afford this.

Why this campaign against conversions?
They (the Sangh parivar) are panicky. They are acting without thinking, bringing fundamentalist issues. They wanted one chance from the people. Now they are afraid it will be their last chance. They are failing on all fronts: economic policy, foreign policy, law and order. So they become more fundamentalist.

Do you think the Sangh parivar's campaign is a political one targeted at Sonia Gandhi?
I don't know if Sonia Gandhi is a practicing Christian. Even if she is, is there any ban on a Christian, or any minority, becoming prime minister? The Constitution guarantees equal opportunity.
I have been in politics for many years. I have been a minister under Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao. No one branded me as a Christian then. Now they do. I am an Indian. Religion has nothing to do with my patriotism. I was born a Christian, I could just as well have been a Muslim or a Hindu. If people say Sangma is anti-national, I am not worried. My conscience is clear.

Why is it that tribals convert in the first place?
Conversion brought social change, it brought economic change. It gave them education and health facilities. I owe everything to the Church. I was a dropout. The church authorities picked me up and gave me free education.

How will the Congress react to this campaign?
If things don't improve, we will have our own plan of action.