Indian state bans conversions

Lower caste Hindus often convert to other religions

By Sampath Kumar BBC reporter in Madras

The government in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu has brought an ordinance - or decree - barring forced religions conversions.

Anyone found guilty will be punished with imprisonment and a hefty fine.

Some say poverty drives people to change faiths

The ordinance says all conversions from one religion to another, from now on, will have to be reported to the district magistrate.

The move comes nearly a month after reports of mass conversions of poor, low-caste Hindus into Christianity in parts of the state.

The ordinance is expected to become law when the state assembly convenes later this month.

Observers say it is likely to provoke a controversy in a state with a reputation for being secular and rationalist.

No person should convert or attempt to convert another person by use of force or allurement or by any other fraudulent means, says the ordinance.

'Exploitation'

It defines allurement as any gift in cash or in kind, or the grant of any material benefit.

Even the threat of divine displeasure will be considered as forcible means.

Hindu activists have been saying that the conversions were the result of exploitation of the poor by Christian and Muslim groups.

Chief Minister Jayalalitha: Building 'closer ties' with BJP

In the early 1980s, residents of an entire village in a southern district of the state converted to Islam, following atrocities committed by high-caste Hindus.

Some weeks ago, low-caste Hindus in a village near the temple town of Kanchipuram threatened to convert to Islam as they were not allowed to offer worship in a Hindu temple.

India's governing BJP has opposed religious conversions and the latest move by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha is seen as an attempt to build closer ties with the BJP.