Unfazed by vehement protests by members of minority communities against the state government’s Ordinance banning ‘‘forcible’’ conversions, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa today reiterated that it was not directed against any particular religion, but was only intended to prevent conversions against a person’s will and wish.
‘‘The Ordinance has been promulgated only to prevent conversions through force or allurement. It is not directed against any religion or minorities,’’ Jayalalithaa told a 16-member delegation of the Tamil Nadu United Minorities Forum which met her at the Secretariat here.
According to an official release issued later, the delegation which called on the CM included Pondicherry Archbishop Michael Augustin, Chennai CSI Bishop Devasahayam, Vellore bishop Chinnappa, Madras-Mylapore deputy bishop Laurence Paes and Muslim leaders Abdul Khader and Nizamudeen and Dalit leader Krishnaparayanar.
When the delegation expressed fears that the Ordinance had the potential of being misused, the Chief Minister assured them that the AIADMK government had never failed to protect the interests of the minorities and would always try to safeguard them, the release said.
The minority community leaders, however, told newsmen that as the Chief Minister did not give any assurance about withdrawing the Ordinance there was no change in their plans for agitation that includes a hunger strike and a conference on October 24 when the Assembly session is scheduled to begin.
There was also no change in their decision to close as many as 6,000 educational institutions run by minorities, demanding immediate withdrawal of the Ordinance.
Pointing out that that the minorities had openly supported the secular front led by the AIADMK in the last Assembly polls, they said, ‘‘The Ordinance and subsequent explanation by the government are a slur on the selfless service done by them for upliftment of poor and downtrodden.’’