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N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
Minority groups in Tamil Nadu, particularly the Christians and the Muslims, have decided to go ahead with their rally in Chennai on Thursday, protesting against the anti-conversion law promulgated by Governor P S Ramamohan Rao on October 6.
The decision was taken after Church and Muslim leaders called on Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday and discussed their apprehensions and reservations regarding the measure.
"But we could not convince the chief minister about the need for withdrawing the measure," Bishop Devasagayam of the Church of South India told reporters later. He said that the leaders will meet after the Thursday rally to chalk out their next course of action.
They will also decide on the plans to close Christian-run educational and charity institutions. The threat has been criticised by the Sangh Parivar with the Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary L Ganesan describing it as an admission of guilt.
The Chennai rally, in which Christians and Muslims from across the State are expected to participate in large numbers, coincides with the commencement of the winter session of the Tami Nadu assembly.
Incidentally the bill seeking to replace the anti-conversion ordinance might be placed before the house during the weeklong winter session. If presented, the bill will surely be passed as the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam holds an absolute majority in the house.
Having obtained support from all political parties except the AIADMK and the BJP, the organisers of the Chennai rally are now ensuring that their rally does not obtain a political hue.
However, a section of the protestors, citing the VHP-RSS-BJP support for the government's measure, find nothing wrong in receiving political support for their protest.
Meanwhile, addressing a pro-ordinance conference in Madurai on Sunday, Vishwa Hindu Parishad secretary general Pravin Tagodia said such laws already exist in nations like Sri Lanka and Israel. He wanted similar laws at the national level and commended the Tamil Nadu measure as a welcome step in this direction.
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