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First of all I would like to get clarification as to what the term "inducement" expands to. Neverthless, such a move is long overdue. Lot of our nation's energy is dissipated in the friction arising out of conversions and their reactions. In order to bring about the conversion, the converter has to ridicule and debase the religion of the subject. While there is something to be said about the right of an individual to propogate one's view, such a right is a luxury which an immature democracy like ours can ill afford. Till, our nation becomes a mature democracy, I wish the ordinance becomes a law and such a law is passed in all the states. Haresh Mehta
Date: Monday, 7 Oct 2002 21:10:43 +0530 Subject: Most thankful
I am very happy with this report , conversions should not accept any religion. Already anti Hindus have been entering in india on the name of religious conversion with foreign money. We are very thankful to Tamil Nadu CM Kumari Jayalalitha. Mostly poor Hindus are converting to christianity due to foreign money, their weakness and social reasons. So conversions are very dangerous to Hindustan and should not accept anybody. If you are accept that you are anti Hindu. Very very thankful to kumari jayalalitha. Ravi Yadav Kankala
Date: Mon, 07 Oct 2002 10:52:44 +0530 Subject: Good decision
This is a very good decision by TN govt, for it avoids evil strategies of religious conversions. According to Indian philosophy, all religions are the different ways to reach the God. There is no meaning in converting one sect of people into the other just for the sake of religious advantage. Even the exploitation of poverty of on section of people for religious conversions should be included in this Act. Mahaveer
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 10:38:03 +0530 Subject: Needed: Some Spine
At least one Govt in India had the spine to introduce this law which our so called secularists kept brushing under the carpet lest it hurt 'religious sentiments'!!! After all in India, Hindus are the only people who are not supposed to have any feelings! Shankar
Date: Mon, 07 Oct 2002 10:33:10 +0530 Subject: Pleasant surprise
I am pleasantly surprised with the ordinance promulgated by TN govt, banning the conversion using force or inducements. This law certainly helps in bringing sanity to what is happening right now. By using money as tool, a great religion has been brought down in terms of ideals.( How different is using money to make people do what they may not like to that of using money for Prostitution?) How different is using force for conversion from slavery? Every religion has right to exist and flourish on basis of ideas, but no religion has right to use money, suppression and perfidy as growth engines. Secondly the growth of a religion, need not be at the expense of other religions, instead new thoughts can always enrich the existing and all religions should look for assimilation. When Hinduism can accommodate so many religions, other religions can and should do the same. Raghav
Date: 7 Oct 2002 04:56:01 -0000 Subject: Not good
This is not good in a democratic government.But there are certain issues to be discussed seriously in tamil nadu example cauvery issue and drought relief and unemployment.So i think this is extremely useless wastage of time . Gnana Amala Jeyaraj
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 22:24:06 -0500 Subject:Blind leading the blind
This is right step in right direction. I hope every state goverenment and the central government follows it. First, in every democracy in the world the conversion is very well monitored and regulated except in India where there is no regulation whatsoever, and the biggest problem for the majority religion in India being that it does not believe in conversion and hence does not do it. But all the rest of religions however fundamentalist or monotheist do it under the disguise of economic prosperity or modernity or religious freedom (as if the day you change your faith you see God!). Secondly, many good Christians oppose it considering that the missionary conversions were a part of "old" colonialistic attitude. Third, it creates conflict in a society since directly or indirectly you are degrading the other faith. Fourth, it is an extrenely backward practice as it puts one faith against another. Nobody has seen God, so it results into the fact that its the blind leading the blind - come this way I will show you God when he himself has not seen it!! I hope people of all faiths recognise that its not in anybody's favor in the long run and does not achieve, absolutely, anything. After all, all religions, if followed properly, lead to the same destiny just like all the rivers lead to the ocean! Aniruddha
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 21:43:01 -0500 Subject: Overdue
Should have been done long time ago. Congratulations to TN govt. It should be also done at the central level. Narendra Utukuri
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 21:58:59 -0400 Subject: Brilliant step
A brilliant step !! The CM has the guts to do it , next only to the BJP and the Sangh Parivar who have talked about it for so long and fought it all alone. The church stands exposed . I am sure more will speak out in favour of the ordinance now . Gana
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 07:26:01 +0530 Subject: Better late...
We needed this when we got independence. Better late then never. Ajay Sharma
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 16:49:38 -0500 Subject: Not by force
Free conversion should be allowed and not by force. Again it is always the economy that makes the conversion easy. Unless the educational level is high and economy is good there will be less problem. But at the same time, if conversion is allowed in India, it should /reciprocal to the countries who are engaging in this task. I consider this is part of secular system. We should emphasize this to middle eastern countries and western world. I do not think it is a problem with the western world. Hindu religion is totally unorganized and there is no real religious leader because of so many different sects and class system. Hindu religion has done the damage from the very beginning and/or it leaders and kings and never cared about the poor and kept them as untouchables etc.etc. Even if it becomes a law, which other countries have especially in the middle east, countries like India, will take a very long time to curb this. Rama Iyer
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 22:49:36 +0100 Subject: A question of respect
It is good to hear this Ban on Religious conversion.If one religion respects another religion then they should not attempt either conversion in any form .Religion is not the issue we should be fighting for. We should fight how to raise the Standards of the Millions of people who need real help. We should fight for the Bright future of this tricolour nation in every good way and not poison the poor innocents with Bad Religious sentiments. Balu
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 16:04:22 -0500 Subject: Deny them visas Your report is very timely.India should deny visa to the proselytizing people. M Jha
Date: 6 Oct 2002 18:47:40 -0000 Subject: End to violence
The news item of the Tamil Nadu ordinance to ban religious conversions by force is a welcome move.Religion is something that is personal and every individual should have his freedom to practice or follow the religion he wants. I feel this move will put an end to the violence which happens in the name forced conversion. Sathyajit
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 11:08:09 -0700 Subject: A prayer
Please pray to God with a forgiving heart to get rain from above, so that you may all survive, forget about the conversions. Peter Lemos
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 10:01:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Finally Awake
This is a long awaited measure. Happy that at least now Tamil Nadu Government has woken up. CP Krishnan
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 13:03:02 EDT Subject: Guts and glory
A great law! At last some government has the guts to pass this law which has been long overdue. Srikanth
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 09:57:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Don't misuse it
This is not just a story for political use by the Hindu Right. They are not the custodians of Hinduism, they are the custodians of religious extremism against Muslims, Christians and Hindus. There is however a serious problem especially in Tamil Nadu (and many other vulnerable states) of Christian conversions. Sometimes blatant, occasionally subtle, but always grounded in economic or psychological need. That story should be told. The Tamil Nadu Govt. ordinance is correct. Let us see if it is enforced or enforceable. Perhaps it can serve as a model for other states that have problems with forcible or induced or other forms of involuntary conversion. And let us monitor the Hindu Right to ensure they are not making mischief around the conversion issue too. Chithra Karuna Karan
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 16:48:31 +0000 Subject: An art form
Coming from a Dravida party, this needs to be applauded. The 'religious conversion' of the innocent, and poor has become an art form as practiced so well by the Evangelists everywhere. I use to see so many poor christains around the place where i live..But these missionaries wouldn't help them. But they are more interested in helping the poor Hindus. This act by missionaries clearly shows their ulterior motives. Great Work Jayalalitha....!!! Jaypali Shetty
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 16:26:50 +0000 Subject: Sane CM
At last another sane CM discovered in India. A opinion poll will surely find her the top runner for the PM post. if she was not so oriented to make make *black* money , she would have a great PM. Ashok Shetty
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 12:22:20 EDT Subject: Revoke it
The ban is not in keeping with the spirit of freedom to preach and practice a religion.it should be revoked. Religion is matter of choice in any case. Abdul Mannan
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 16:11:21 +0000 Subject: Now for the Centre
Kudos to Jayalalitha ji for taking such a step. None of the other leaders in the country have the guts to take such decisions. Hope central government takes a cue from this and implements "Uniform Civil Code" in the country. Suren
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 11:17:16 -0400 Subject: Brave lady
This is what should be done by the central govt.But BJP Govt is a party of gutless people who are afraid of spineless secularists. Congrats to brave lady of the south. D Sharma
Date: Sun, 06 Oct 2002 20:33:09 +0530 Subject: Unqualified
The ordinance should not have been qualified with the word 'Forcible'. Taking advantage of this the conversion of poor and illiterate will go on unabated. HM Gulgulia
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 15:57:43 +0100 Subject: False beliefs
This is a great and a brave move by the chief minister. Hats off for her. Surely there is going to be objections from those involved in converting hindus to other religions giving false belief and assuring better social status. Senthil
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 20:24:54 +0530 Subject: Need of the hour
The ban on conversion is the need of the hour and tamilnadu government should be complimented for promugling ordinance and self respect hindu should be proud of such moves.Schedule castes and schedule tribes have been given enough protection in our constitution to uplift their standard of living but in recent times others so called minority religion had been taking advantage of their social backward to induce them to embrass christianity or islam.This is first step to consolidate hindu community to protect their culture, heritage and their religions. Chandrasekhar
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 15:07:56 +0100 (BST) Subject: A question of faith
I have nothing to say about banning religion conversion, but those who welcomes this ban have no strong faith in the relegion in which they believe now. Implementing such law is against The Indian Constitution. Jayalalitha just want to impress sangh parivar{BJP} May God Jesus, the almighty bless her too. Loving greetings to all Babu George
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 19:30:13 +0530 Subject: The only male
Jaylalita has proved once again that she is the only male among the Indian Politicians AA Nair
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 06:23:25 +0530 Subject: More, more
This is the first , most wonderful thing that Jayalalitha has done as a chief minister. We need more like her with her guts. This will definitely put a stop to the resentment building up in the Hindus that they're being marginalised. hinmdus must come out in support of this ordinance, just as the christians who encourage rampant conversion are going to show resentment. Shanthi Gopalan
Earlier Mail
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