TN govt has told SC that there is nothing unlawful in spreading Christianity by missionaries unless it is a forceful act.
In response to the PIL filed by advocate Mr AK Upadhyay, the DMK govt replied : “ The complaints raised by the petitioner are not applicable to the areas of Tamil Nadu, as these kind of cases of conversion of poor people by scaring, swindling or or tempting through gifts are not seen here.
These kind of incidents are mostly seen or have taken place in M.P, Odisha and India’s Hindi belt. Thus as per the petitioner these matter is not applicable in TN.”
Anti- Conversion laws are susceptible to use against minorities. Article 25 of Indian Constitution ensures every citizen of India to practice and propagate his religion of choice. But for any such instance of spreading religion forcefully, state has already passed the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act in 2002, which was repealed by stiff opposition in 2006.
In the attestation, the state has also rejected Upadhyay’s demands regarding suicide of 17 year old Lavanya in Tamil Nadu where she was reportedly forced to change her religion by the Christian Educational institution wheree she was studying.
