MUMBAI: Alleging that "religious cleansing" was underway in Kashmir , Mumbai-based ' Catholic Christian Secular Forum ' today demanded aid from Prime Minister's relief fund for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Christians. " Religious cleansing is taking place in Kashmir....the Christians have to flee to other parts of the country," said Joseph Dias, General Secretary of CCSF, here. The state government, the courts and the Centre were not taking any steps to counteract this, he said. "A package from the Prime Minister's relief funds needs to be allotted for their rehabilitation.We are seeking appointment with the Prime Minister as we don't see that the Jammu and Kashmir government would be able to address our problems." Demanding jobs for the displaced persons, Joseph said that CCSF was not trying to give the issue Islam vs Christianity colour. He also alleged that Christians in the state were being pressured to convert.Advocate Iftikhar Bazmi, a peace activist from Kashmir, said the word 'secular' was not enshrined in the constitution of Kashmir."Christian community there must be protected and those who threaten them should be prosecuted," he said. Justice Michael Saldhana, former Bombay High Court judge, claimed that ten years ago there were 40,000 Christian families in Kashmir, but in the last 2 years, the number had come down to around 800. Two Christian youths from the region who were present at the press conference, their faces covered, alleged that they were tortured and hounded out of houses because of their refusal to convert.