The new government of the southern state, composed of DMK democrats, has declared its intention to abolish the law punishing conversions as soon as possible; it is used only as a political instrument against minorities.
Delhi (AsiaNews) The Church in India has greeted "with joy and satisfaction" a decision to abolish the anti-conversion law in Tamil Nadu, taken by the new coalition government led by the DMK democrats. The Church hopes "this step on the right track" will also be taken by other states "as yet in the clutches of similar laws".
Fr Babu Joseph, spokesman of the Indian Bishops' Conference, told AsiaNews: "We welcome the decision of the government of Tamil Nadu. It is especially appreciated because the government declared the anti-conversion law to be redundant and to serve no useful purpose other than to cause harassment to people, particularly minorities.
"The government decision is a clear proof that such discriminatory laws do not stand the test of India's time-honoured values of freedom of conscience and religious tolerance. We hope the decision will be taken by other Indian states as yet in the clutches of similar laws."
Fr Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit who is a renowned human rights activist and director of the Prashanti Centre, shares the same view. He told AsiaNews: "This decision of the DMK democrats is a step in the right direction. The law in itself is extremely draconian in nature and was reflective of the vindictive attitude of members of the previous government towards those they suspected of not supporting them. However, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu herself, Mrs Jayalalitha, realized her folly and tried to abolish it, but without success."
John Dayal, chairman of the All India Catholic Union [the largest association of lay Catholics in India], said the decision taken by the DMK highlighted "the futility of such laws, which are born not as is regularly claimed in response to any mass conversions, but only a political instruments for Hindu nationalists to control India's political and administrative machinery and its people through violence and fear."
The activist added: "The law was introduced by pointing to the bogeyman of a growing Christian lobby in the state: the defeat of the party that waved this false banner during the election reveals how this type of strategy does not pay off."