Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 17: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said here today that there was no proposal to amend the Constitution or frame any new law on conversions even as he reiterated the need for a dialogue to develop goodwill and confidence in the people.Vajpayee said this when newsmen asked him whether he was still holding by his call for a national debate on conversions which had gladdened Hindu fundamentalists and disappointed secularists and minorities.``I don't think anyone is disappointed. Even the Roman Catholic bishop who met me has welcomed the dialogue,'' Vajpayee said referring to the meeting he had with Bishop Soosapakkiam and his education secretary Fr C Joseph at the airport.He said no section of the Indian society should feel insecure. Recently, he went to Dangs and met leaders of the Christian community. In reply to another question on whether he would agree to the demand for a ban on proselytisation, the Prime Minister said there was a law in some states against fraudulentconversions which were challenged and upheld by the Court. Asked whether he would welcome the extension of the law to other states, Vajpayee said that depended on states. ``Anyhow, I am not going to give them any advice.'' The question of a law against conversions was discussed at the Constituent Assembly and a consensus had emerged on the basis of which the country had been able to maintain its integrity.Asked how effective was the Prime Minister's prerogative given the nature of the coalition at the Centre, Vajpayee said there was no question of giving up the prerogative. But even in single-party rule, consultations do take place. Asked whether consultations were over, he said they were still on.To the charge that the Centre had always been neglecting Kerala, Vajpayee quipped that charge was unfair. ``No, not today especially now when your Chief Minister is here. I had come here twice after taking over as Prime Minister,'' he said. He said he would keep his promise on including Kerala in the nationalexpress highway.During his 17-hour visit to the state, Vajpayee dedicated to the nation the first phase of the Kayamkulam thermal project of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), participated in the concluding function of the golden jubilee of the Sree Narayana College at Kollam, took time off to meet delegations of his own party and that of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and made some important announcements having a bearing on the economy of the state.
