AGRA: A proposed two-day conference on atheism, which was scheduled to commence on Thursday in the temple town of Mathura , has sparked a controversy with local religious leaders approaching the police to prevent Swami Balendu from holding the programme.Once known for preaching Hinduism, Swami Balendu, who now calls himself an ‘atheist guru’, has debunked religion by dubbing it ‘fake’ and ‘false’. Talking to media, Swami Balendu said that all religious scriptures are ‘fictitious’ and meant only for entertainment.He said that religion is a ‘business’ that thrives on fear in the minds of people. “They make money on the fears existing in the minds of gullible people,” he said dubbing religion as a ‘poison’.Irked by his comments and his move to hold an atheists’ conference, Phool Dol Das Mahant in Vrindavan said that Balendu is spreading lies and ‘immorality’ (adharam) adding that such a convention should not be allowed.Another dharam guru, Sanjeev Krishna said that everyone has a right to worship their gods and this convention would promote communal disharmony. "Religion and belief in god is a personal subject and anyone who dubs religious scriptures as fake is sending a very wrong message,” he said adding that they would file a police complaint to stop the convention.Mohd Umar Kadri, Imam Shahi Jama Mazid in Mathura, said that Balendu is a ‘publicity seeker’ and has no right to hurt the feelings of believers.