Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 31, 2002
Even as the Tamil Nadu Prohibition
of Forcible Conversion of Religion Bill was passed in the assembly, the
Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Jayandra Saraswathi Swami held
a rally on the sands of the Marina here trying to allay fears that the
law was directed at any particular religion.
Addressing a crowd of about three
thousand comprising various religious and caste groups, he said no religious
group should fear such a law.
He likened it to marriage laws.
Just as any marriage has to be registered, a change of religion too has
to be registered with the district magistrate, he said.
Whatever opposition this law was
facing was all political and there was nothing legal about it.
He further clarified that the law
was basically aimed at those who were converting people with a particular
number of conversions within a span of time as target in mind.
However, no one could stop anyone
who was converting to a different religion on his or her free will.
The Shankaracharya also called upon
the Hindus to give up the practice of untouchablity. Instead, they should
work towards helping the dalits to achieve social and economic emancipation.
