06.06.2006
Lutheran Leader Says Controversial Law Hurt India's Minorities
The head of the Chennai-based United Evangelical Lutheran Church of India (UELCI) was among church leaders who welcomed the recent defeat in regional elections of India's ruling party, which had backed an anti-conversion law seen as harmful to Christians. "We are proud of the people for exercising their democratic rights responsibly," outgoing UELCI executive secretary, Rev. Chandran Paul Martin said after the May 2006 defeat of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) at elections in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.He noted that most Christians and other minorities in the state voted against the ruling party for its failure on several counts including the controversial anti-conversion bill "that hurt the minorities badly." The party and its allies won only 69 of the 234 seats in the legislature, while the opposition alliance of Democratic Progressive Alliance that supported the Christians during their protests against the anti-conversion bill garnered 163 seats, representing a two-thirds majority.
Ignoring protests by Christians, Muslims, civil rights groups and opposition parties, the ruling AIADMK had in 2002 passed the controversial bill to ban conversions by "fraud, force or inducement" without debate in the state assembly.
Christians account for just over 6 percent of Tamil Nadu's 62 million people. Muslims make up 8 percent. (218 words)
Ecumenical News International
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