MINORITIES - 2002 - Indian Social Institute

29 th October
Hindutva bodies spreading terror (7)
JAIPUR, OCT. 28.The human rights organisa tions in Rajasthan have charged the Hindutva bodies and
the BJP of spreading terror among the Christian population in Ajmer for facilitating re-conversions. The
terror tactics, unleashed by them during the past one month after an alleged crimi nal incident involving a
Catholic priest in Bhawani Kheda village near Nazirabad on September 9, had led to re-conversions of
125 Rawat families who had embraced Christianity about 95 years back, they said. A team of PUCL
members, which went to Bhawani Kheda, 30 kms from Ajmer on a fact-finding mission, said in its report
that a criminal incident, involving a priest was being made use of to run a hate cam paign against the local
Christian popula tion. "The issue was politicised by the vested interests. The hate campaign is making
even the ordinary Hindus inse cure," D.LTripathi, vice president of the Rajasthan PUCL, who led the team
said. (Hindu 29.10.02)
Notice sent to TN on pastor’s petition against conversion law (7)
Chennai, Oct. 28: The Madras high court on Mon day sent a notice to the Tamil Nadu government on
a petition from a Christian mission ary challenging the recent ordinance banning forced conversions,
arguing that it violated freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitu tion.
Pastor Thangaraj of Thiruvallur district, about 50 km from Chennai, in his petition, has sought a court
order declaring the ordinance null and void, besides being unconstitutional. He has also sought a stay on
the ordi nance, pending disposal of his petition. Terming the ordinance as "ill-conceived," the pastor said it
would harm the social fabric of the country and hurt the efforts towards the upliftment of the deprived and
oppressed. "There is also fear among the minorities that the law will become a tool for Hindu
fundamentalists to pre vent even voluntary conver sions," the pastor said. (Asian Age 29.10.02)
31 st October
Conversion Bill introduced in T.N. Assembly (7)
CHENNAI, OCT. 30. Amid stiff objections from the Opposition parties barring the BJP, the controversial
Bill banning "forcible" religious conversions in Tamil Nadu was introduced by the Finance Minis ter, C.
Ponnaiyan, in the State Assembly today. The Bill retains all the contentious provisions of the recently
promulgated ordinance, which was greeted with fierce protest from leaders of minority organisations and
Opposition parties. The ordinance had slapped a penalty of a maximum of four years imprisonment and
Rs. 1 lakh fine for converting SC\ST, women and minors and one-year imprisonment for priests who fail to
inform the district magistrates about each conversion they have performed. . The Opposition Congress,
the DMK, the Left parties and the PMK, which have already given notice for a motion disapproving the
ordinance, opposed the Bill at the introductory stage itself. (Hindu 31.10.02)
1 st Nov.
Violation of right: Paswan (7)
New Delhi: Oct. 31: The former Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Pary chief, Ramvilas Paswan today
criticized the law against forcible conversions in Tamil Nadu and termed it a violation of a citizen’s
fundamental right. He said the Bill would lead to serious constitutional implications as Article 25 of the
Constitution provided the right to every citizen to practise, profess and propagate his or her religion.
(Hindu 1.11.02)
Only one relief camp remains for riot victims in Gujarat (7)
Ahmedabad, Oct. 31: One of the last relief camps for riot victims at Haj House here was closed down on
Thursday. This leaves just one relief camp open in the city — Qureshi Hall, which houses about 70
families from Naroda and Chamanpura. Around 100 people staying at the Haj House camp were directed
to vacate the premis es despite their pleas that they had no houses to go to. Irreg ularities in compensation
and its distribution have made matters worse for them.
The relief camp organiser at Haj House in Kalupur, Ayub Khan, informed The Asian Age that about 100
people, especially from Jalampuri ni chawl in Saraspur and few areas in Vatva, have not received any
compensation and have been unable to rebuild their homes. "The main problem is that someone else has