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The Rediff Interview/The Right Reverend Dr Lawrence Pius Dorairaj

The Tamil Nadu state government's new ordinance banning conversion from one religion to another using "force, fraud, or allurement" has caused an uproar in the state, especially among the minorities, dalits, and opposition parties. Except the Bharatiya Janata Party and parties that support the BJP, and Hindu religious heads, all other political parties have expressed strong reservations against the ordinance.

In protest, the All India Christian Council has decided to close down all minority-run (read Christian) educational institutions on October 24, which is also the day the state assembly is to reconvene.

But Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has shown no sign of bowing down to the pressure. Her latest statement says that the state will go ahead with the ordinance and it will be passed in the assembly.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Madras, the Right Reverend Dr Lawrence Pius Dorairaj, spoke to Shobha Warrier about the fears of his community.

The Christian Council has described the anti-conversion ordinance as a draconian law. Why?

Because Article 25 of the Constitution clearly guarantees that we have the right to profess, practise, and propagate our religion. Christianity, like Islam, is a missionary religion. It has to preach and convert.

This ordinance is draconian because it prevents and stifles our freedom to propagate and convert, which is guaranteed by the Constitution. Any conversion is suspect under the ordinance.

The chief minister clarified that the ordinance is directed only against fraudulent means, allurement, and force in enticing individuals into changing their religion.

Where is forcible conversion taking place? In the last five decades in Tamil Nadu, have there been instances of forcible conversion? There has never been an instance at all. So, where is the need for such an ordinance? It is just to stifle the freedom of the minorities.

If there are no forcible conversions, why are you against such an ordinance? When the ordinance talks only about forcible conversion, how will it stifle your freedom?

Because they will term even normal conversions as forcible, based on inducement and allurement. The way POTA [the Prevention of Terrorism Act] has been misused, the ordinance also will be misused. We are only scared about the misuse.

Similar laws are in force in Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Orissa. Why are you scared of it in Tamil Nadu?

Many people will be booked for trying to convert people through normal, fair means. Whoever the government or the chief minister does not favour will be booked because they converted people.

In the other states, they have gone to court. They tried agitations and nothing happened, I think. Then, they moved the court in Orissa and Arunachal Pradesh. In MP, the high court upheld the ordinance given by the government whereas in Orissa, the government lost. In MP, they have gone to the Supreme Court and the court upheld the MP government's decision. So, in the Supreme Court, it is prevailing.

What is the course of action that you are planning in Tamil Nadu?

On the 24th, at the state level, we are closing down all minority-run educational institutions, and there will be a fast from 8 o'clock in the morning till 4 o'clock in the evening.

At 5, there will be a public meeting, and we have taken care to invite all political parties who oppose the ordinance because we feel that this is a political move on the part of the chief minister more than anything else.

Why do you feel this is a political move?

We feel she is trying to appease the Hindutva forces. Otherwise, there is no reason at all to have such an ordinance now. It came up from nowhere, and everything was done in such haste. Overnight, they got the signature of the governor and made it public. Why is this done in such haste? It is incomprehensible. Therefore, it is surely a political move.

She started anna dana [donation of food grains] in Hindu temples a few months back. She is now trying to appease the pro-Hindutva forces. She probably wants to get out of the TANSI tangle.

By calling all the political parties, are you not making this a political issue? Don't you feel many political parties are using the minorities as vote banks?

Yes, maybe they are taking political advantage of the situation. We are quite aware of that. At the same time, practically, all political parties except the BJP and the ADMK are against the ordinance. So, why not rope them in since we feel this is a political move by Jayalalithaa. So we have decided to meet it at the political level.

Do you feel you need political support in this battle?

Yes. On this issue, it is necessary to have political support.

The chief minister has said once again that the ordinance is not anti-minorities and she will go ahead with it.

We will try our best to stage demonstrations, protests, etc to stir the conscience of the people. Our fear is, since the ADMK has the majority in the assembly, the bill will be passed.

If it is passed, how much will it affect your freedom?

After that, we cannot ask a Hindu, why don't you come to Christianity? It will be termed allurement, inducement, and forced conversion at the worst. So, such an ordinance will stifle our missionary efforts.

The criticism against missionaries is that they lure poor people with money, food, and education. Is there any truth in the criticism?

There may be some truth. I don't deny it. Then, there is nothing wrong in giving the poor education and making them see that there is a religion that imbibes them, that Jesus Christ loves them and that they can achieve salvation through Jesus Christ. This cannot be called inducement. It is a way of preaching.

Are these people embracing Christianity because of the caste hierarchy that exists in Hinduism?

Many come because of that. Or simply by the conversion of heart.

Are they all treated equal in Christianity? Is there no division among Christians?

There is division. Unfortunately, in Christianity also, the caste system exists. I cannot say that there is no caste system in Christianity, but they are not oppressed to the extent they are oppressed in Hinduism. We know that untouchable Christians are there, but we try our best to treat them on an equal footing. For example, when we ask for privileges for untouchable Christians, indirectly we are accepting that there is a caste system. But it is not oppressive.

You said all educational institutions will be closed on October 24 as a protest. Will you close them permanently if the ordinance is passed in the state assembly?

We will not close down permanently. Maybe we will close indefinitely if the bill is passed. We will work out other ways of protesting. We will move the courts. We fear our freedom is being stifled.

Is this fear confined to Tamil Nadu alone or do you feel there is an anti-minority sentiment throughout the country?

It [the anti-minority sentiment] is gaining ground everywhere. There have been persecutions in the last 10 years, more so in the last 3 or 4 years. Now, it is coming to this state, which was famous for its tolerance. We are afraid that Christian leaders may be arrested.

What do you fear most?

Slowly, we will be treated as aliens in our own country. We are all Indians, but we may be treated as aliens. We may not be allowed to propagate our religion.

Image: Dominic Xavier; Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

The Rediff Interviews