Reconversion Plan by 5000 Christians

Author:
Publication: New Indian Express
Date: December 11, 2002

The Dalit Ethnic Liberation Organisation (DELO) headed by D.Periyasamy. an erstwhile associate of DPI leader Thirumavalavan, is organising a programme in Tiruchi on April 13 next year to re-convert Christians to Hinduism. In a media briefing,he claimed that about 5000 Christians would get converted to Hinduism on the occasion. He further said his organisation would fight against the practice of untouchability in hinduism and urged Kanchi Pontiff Jayendra Saraswati to provide representation to Dalits in the Kanchi Mutt. Welcoming the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion Act, Periasamy said the status of converted Dalits had been changed from scheduled caste to backward caste whereby they lost the privileges for which they were entitled to and to get such facilities, many of them were returning to their parent religion. Endorsing Dalit Liberation Leader Periasamy's suggestions, Hindu Makkal Katchi general secretary Arjun Sampath who was also present on the occasion, appealed to the State Government to appoint "qualified and devout" Dalits as archakas in temples as per the recent Supreme Court ruling. [unquote]