Sushma Swaraj Sushma Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that religious conversions in the country will continue till a law against the practice comes into force. She also sought supports of all political parties in passing an anti-conversion law.

She told a press conference in Bhopal called to highlight the achievements of the NDA government since it came to power. Swaraj said: "We have clearly said in Parliament that till the time an anti-conversion law is passed, conversions will continue. We want all political parties to agree so that we can pass a law against conversions."

The issue has been the subject of a raging political debate recently and had stalled Parliament for several days in the winter session.

While the Opposition has repeatedly attacked it over the 'ghar wapasi' campaign, reportedly by the affiliates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the government has said that it is willing to bring an anti-conversion legislation, provided all parties agree to it.

To a question, Swaraj said it was not necessary for the external affairs minister to always accompany the prime minister on his foreign tours. Commentators in the media have pointed out that while the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited several countries in the past seven months, Swaraj had not always figured in these tours. Swaraj mentioned that her ministry had reduced the time for getting appointment with authorities for verification of documents for getting passport to seven days from the earlier 28 days.

"Earlier there were only two offices, now we have one passport office in every state," Swaraj said.

On the issue of bringing back black money from overseas banks, the minister said the government has taken several steps for it and even Modi had raised it at the Brisbane G-20 summit in November.