KOCHI: National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson in charge Rekha Sharma said on Monday women are being forcibly converted in Kerala under the threat of blackmail and after being lured with the promise of money and jobs.Sharma is on a three-day visit to Kerala following reports of forced religious conversions in the state.
‘’There are dedicated groups behind these conversions. I spoke to several women in Kochi who narrated how they were blackmailed. In one case, a boy snapped the photograph of a girl and threatened to post it on social media if she doesn’t convert. In another instance, a teenager lured a woman by offering her money to convert to a particular religion. She was lodged in Sathyasarani for conversion,” she said.
On the intention behind her visit to the state, Sharma said: “I took charge of the NCW only a few days ago. The other day I saw a video of Hadiya alias Akhila which prompted me to undertake the visit. I’ll meet the women who were subjected to forced conversions in the state and speak to their parents,” she said.