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Kerala government helpless on conversions issue
According to reports, eleven members from the three families were initiated into Hindu faith in the presence of VHP Chengannur unit president Pratap G Padickal at a ceremony held at a temple at Varanapally in the morning.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy ruled out any intervention against the current spell of conversions in the state even as three Muslim families at Kayamkulam in Aleppey district were converted to Hinduism by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Wednesday.
According to reports, eleven members from the three families were initiated into Hindu faith in the presence of VHP Chengannur unit president Pratap G Padickal at a ceremony held at a temple at Varanapally in the morning. This followed ‘reconversion’ of about 35 people from nine Christian families in Aleppey and Quilon district on Sunday.
The VHP has claimed that it would facilitate re-conversion of another 200 more people on Christmas day on December 25. VHP leaders said the reconversions in Kerala were not part of the ‘Ghar wapasi’ (homecoming) programme initiated by the Hindu outfit. They claimed that many Hindus who had earlier converted to Christianity and Islam have been returning voluntarily to their original faith for a long time now.
However, some Christian organisations have alleged inducements behind the recent spell of conversions. They pointed out that Christians at Cheppad in Aleppey district had embraced the Hindu faith this Sunday after they were promised the benefits of reservation by the Hindu outfits. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had asked Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence) A Hemachandran to investigate the matter. The local police had not taken cognizance of the incident saying they had not received any complaint from any quarters.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the situation in the state on conversion did not warrant any government intervention. Talking to reporters after the cabinet meeting here, Chandy said there was no compulsion conversion or reconversion in Kerala warranting any intervention from the government. He asserted that forced conversions will not take place in the state. However, Chandy said that the government would not be able to do anything if somebody voluntarily takes any decision, regarding their faith. People of Kerala have been out of these kind of things and want peace and harmony, he said, adding, all sections in the society enjoys equal rights and dignity in the state.
However, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has expressed serious concern over the conversion sprees going on across the country. CBCI president and head of the Syro-Malankara Church cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos said the new spell of conversions would injure the feelings of the secular societies.
He pointed out that secularism, diversity and pluralism have been the hallmarks of Indian culture for ages and any organised schemes to sabotage them would trigger major frictions. He has urged prime minister Narendra Modi to avert such events.
— news@khaleejtimes.com
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