Jaya wields stick on conversions, gets Sangh’s pat

The ordinance says that if the converted person is a minor, a woman or a member of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, the imprisonment could extend to four years and the fine to Rs 1 lakh.

While state BJP general secretary H Raja praised Jayalalithaa for her ‘‘courage and understanding of the situation’’, the VHP said that Tamil Nadu had taken the lead in fulfilling a long-pending demand of the Hindus. VHP international vice-president S. Vedantham even said that all people who wanted to prevent communal clashes should welcome the ordinance.

Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi said the ordinance will help maintain peace, harmony and unity in the society and that a similar law should cover the country.

The seer’s approval, however, came with a warning that Hindutva forces were trying to ‘‘hinduise’’ tribals and that the government should take this aspect of conversions seriously.

While Congress leader Vazhapadi Ramamoorthy predicted petitions in court against the ordinance, the state government brushed aside all protests, asserting that the ordinance will act as a deterrent against anti-social and vested interests exploiting innocent people from deprived classes.

It said the ordinance will foil the attempts of fundamentalists and subversive forces to create communal tension under the garb of religious conversion. Indian National League state president A.M. Abdul Khader, in a statement, wondered why Jayalalithaa had chosen to promulgate an ordinance now. ‘‘How can conversions be prevented if an individual is attracted to another religion because of faith in it? The ban will not affect Islam as it does not advocate compulsory conversion,’’ he said.

The ordinance also says that any priest who converts a person should inform the district magistrate. Any failure to do so will invite imprisonment of up to a year.