The Hindu : Minority leaders plan stir against ordinance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Minority leaders plan stir against ordinance

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI OCT. 9. An emergency meeting of the Tamil Nadu Bishops Council, the Bishops of the Church of South India and Jamaat leaders from all over the State has been convened here for tomorrow to chalk out a plan of action to protest the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Ordinance.

The meeting, to be chaired by the president of the United Minorities Forum, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, M. Arokiasamy, Archbishop of Madurai, will discuss the provisions of the ordinance and their implications for human and religious rights. The plan, sources in the Archbishop's House said, would reflect the sentiments of the Christians of all denominations.

Heads of minority educational institutions have been invited for the meeting, in which Aruldas James, Archbishop of Chennai-Mylapore, will participate. The meeting will also decide on the dates and venues for the agitation against the ordinance. The Madurai meeting assumes significance in the context of the threat by the Church and the Muslims of closing their educational institutions if the State Government did not withdraw the ordinance.

Meanwhile, the All-India Catholic Union has demanded the withdrawal of the ordinance as it threatened the secular base of the Constitution.

In a statement issued here today, the national secretary of the union, Edward M. Arockiadoss, said the ordinance would prevent Dalits from embracing other religions to escape untouchability.

Mr. Arockiadoss feared that the ordinance would be used against minorities and Dalit activists.

Withdraw measure: DK

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

The Dravida Kazhagam, general secretary, K. Veeramani, has requested the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, to withdraw the ordinance.

Even in BJP-ruled States, a law of this nature did not exist, he said and wanted to know why it was introduced at a time when an Assembly session was round the corner.

Pointing out that the AIADMK came to power after having headed a secular alliance, Mr. Veeramani, a staunch ally of the ruling party, said AIADMK supporters came from various religious denominations. Besides, only the Kanchi Sankaracharya, the Sangh Parivar and like-minded people and organisations welcomed the ordinance. Christian, Muslim and other minority organisations, the DMK, the Congress, the communist parties, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Dalit Panthers of India oppressed the move. The Government should focus on the problems of Dalits and the oppressed classes. In some villages in Madurai, elected Dalit representatives were not able to function, he said. This regime should not be labelled as one supporting Hindutva forces, said Mr. Veeramani.

The DPI general Secretary, R. Tirumavalavan, said the ordinance was meant to crush the Dalits. It was unfortunate the State Government had promulgated an ordinance, which even the BJP-ruled States were afraid of bringing in. The measure was against the Constitution, which had given freedom to individuals to practise the religion of their choice.

The party would launch Statewide agitations if the Government did not withdraw the ordinance.

The Makkal Tamil Desam also demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance.

The State unit of the Indian Union Muslim League said forcible conversion was not possible and the people got embraced other religions only with a change of heart. Moreover, religion was the birthright of an individual and should not be tampered with at any cost.

The Catholic Association also warned of a series of agitations if the ordinance is not withdrawn. However, the minority morcha of the BJP welcomed the ordinance and charged that the involvement of foreigners and foreign funds for conversion had been damaging the fabric of society. It, however, cautioned the Government against some overzealous officials misusing the proposed law.

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