Author: NDTV Correspondent
Publication: NDTV
Date: October 31, 2002
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/topstories/showtopstory.asp?slug=TN+passes+anti%2Dconversion+ordinance&id=10499
Amidst an hour-long acrimonious
debate, the Tamil Nadu assembly today passed the Anti-Conversion ordinance,
with 140 members voting in favour and 73 opposing the measure.
The ordinance, which has now become
a bill, seeks to regulate any forced religious conversion. The move, seen
to target minorities had resulted in protests from organizations across
the state.
Replying to the debate earlier today,
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said that the legislation was not directed
against any particular religion or minorities but was a bid to prevent
conversions made through force or allurement.
"Those changing religion on their
own volition will not be covered under this legislation", she claimed.
Protecting "vulnerable" sections
Criticizing the Congress for opposing
the legislation, Jayalalithaa quoted Mahatma Gandhi as having said, "Conversions
are harmful to India. If I had the power and could legislate, I should
certainly stop all proselytizing".
She said the legislation would in
no way affect the interests of the minorities and was "only aimed at preventing
the vulnerable sections of society from falling a prey to force and allurements."
Pointing out that states like Madhya
Pradesh, Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh already had such laws, she recalled
that nearly 800 Scheduled Caste people were forced to change their religion
in Meenakshipuram in Tirunelveli district in 1981.
There was also communal clash in
Mandaikadu in Kanyakumari district in 1982, forcing the then Chief Minister
M G Ramachandran to appoint an enquiry commission, headed by Justice Venugopal.
The probe submitted that 'compulsory
conversion' was responsible for the clashes. It also suggested enactment
of a law to prevent conversions through allurement.
