Conversion Ordinance: Jaya invites opponents for talks

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has invited the Anti-Conversion Ordinance Protest Committee for a discussion on the implications of t...

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has invited the Anti-Conversion Ordinance Protest Committee for a discussion on the implications of the ban imposed by the state government.

‘‘The CM’s invitation was conveyed through PWD Minister Panneerselvam and we have been asked to give a list of participants,’’ Protest Committee chairman Bishop Peter Fernando said today. ‘‘We will appeal to her to withdraw the Ordinance,’’ he said, but stressed the agitations would continue.

Detailing the agitation plan, he said the members of the committee would stage a state-wide protest on October 19. The committee will also organise a hunger strike and a conference on October 24 here when the Assembly session begins.

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Political leaders, including DMK chief Karunanidhi, DPI general secretary R. Thirumavalavan, Congress leaders G.K. Vasan, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, PMK founder Ramadoss and Left leaders A.K. Bardhan and Sankaraiah will participate in the conference, he said. All schools run by minorities will remain shut on October 24.

All India Christian Council president Joseph D’Souza said that a nation-wide protest would be held on Saturday. ‘‘It’s (the Ordinance) a piece legislative violence against minorities and a reflection of the hatred politics practised by Hindutva forces,’’ he said.

The Movement for People’s Unity called the ban an “attempt to divert the people’s attention from pressing issues and to vitiate the communal atmosphere’’.

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