CHENNAI: Tension over religious conversions has escalated in Tamil Nadu, with several incidents in the past month highlighting the ongoing friction between Hindu groups and Christian missionaries. Hindu Munnani, a prominent Hindu nationalist organisation, has been at the forefront of these confrontations, particularly in Perambalur and Tirunelveli districts.
In a recent incident on August 22, 2024, members of Hindu Munnani reportedly prevented Christian missionaries from distributing sweets and Bibles to schoolchildren near Perambalur Government Higher Secondary School and the District HQ Hospital. The Hindu group claims the missionaries were attempting to lure the children into conversion. According to a statement posted on Hindu Munnani’s official X account, there have been increasing incidents of forced Christian conversions in the Perambalur region.
பெரம்பலூரில் தீவிரமாக பரவும் கட்டாய கிருஸ்தவ மதமாற்றம்…
இன்று பெரம்பலூர் அரசு மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளி மற்றும் மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனை அருகில் பள்ளி மாணவ & மாணவிகளிடம் இனிப்பு மற்றும் பைபில் புத்தகத்தை கொடுத்து ஆசைவார்த்தை கூறி மதப்பிரசாரத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.. pic.twitter.com/aYxUiBwoCx
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 22, 2024
As per the account, Hindu Munnani representatives who were passing by noticed the missionaries distributing religious materials to students on their way to school. When confronted by the Hindu activists, the missionaries allegedly responded with threats before hastily leaving the area in their vehicle. Video footage shared by Hindu Munnani shows one of the missionaries opening a car filled with boxes of Bibles, attempting to distribute them before being confronted by the activists.
One Hindu Munnani functionary stated, “You are going door to door distributing books, and we are continuously stopping you.” The situation escalated when the missionaries attempted to flee the scene, prompting more Hindu Munnani members to gather. They demanded the missionary hand over a Bible as evidence of their activities. In response, the missionary reportedly challenged them, saying, “Take my face as evidence,” before pushing one of the activists and driving off.
The incident has raised questions about police actions and religious tolerance in the region. Hindu Munnani questioned how authorities would respond if Hindu religious texts like the Thiruvasakam or Shiva Purana were distributed among Muslims and Christians, hinting at a perceived double standard.
In another related event, villagers in South Eranthai, Tirunelveli district, successfully halted the unauthorized construction of a church by a Christian family on public land. The villagers organized a two-day sit-in protest at a local temple, raising black flags to express their opposition. Their protest prompted local officials to intervene and stop the construction.
#நெல்லை புறநகர், நாங்குநேரி ஒன்றியத்துக்கு உட்பட்ட தெற்கு ஏறாந்தையில் உரிய அனுமதி இல்லாமல் பொது இடத்தில் #சர்ச் கட்டுவதற்கு ஊர் மக்கள் சார்பில் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து, ஊர் முழுவதும் #கருப்பு கொடி கட்டி கோயில் வளாகத்தில் தொடர் உள்ளிருப்பு போராட்டம் இரண்டு நாட்களாக நடைபெற்று வந்த pic.twitter.com/IfUjT4jM3S
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 14, 2024
In South Eranthai, a village near Thisayanvilai in the Tirunelveli District, a newly converted Christian family began constructing a church on public land, according to Hindu Munnani. The village, predominantly Hindu with 130 families, opposed the construction, suggesting that the family either worship at home or build the church on private land. Despite the residents’ protests, the construction continued. In response, villagers organized a hunger strike at the Uchimakali Amman temple and displayed black flags on their homes to symbolize their dissent.
Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred in Chinnamanur, Theni District, where Christian missionaries allegedly attempted to convert Hindu boys during a summer class held at an unauthorized prayer hall near Potiyamman Temple. According to Hindu Munnani, the boys were given crowns with Jesus’ image and name badges featuring Jesus stickers. The illegal conversion effort, reportedly orchestrated by missionary James Raja and involving over 30 children, was halted by Hindu Munnani activists who alerted the parents.
Another case in Villupuram District has further fueled tensions. Hindu Munnani accused the Tamil Nadu government of double standards in its handling of religious structures. The organization claimed that a church was illegally constructed on land belonging to the Public Works Department in Parukambattu village, Tiruvenney Nallur taluk. While authorities have faced resistance from the local Christian community in removing the structure, Hindu Munnani pointed out that the government, led by the DMK, has previously demolished Hindu temples built on public land, citing regulatory enforcement. However, the same zeal is not shown when it comes to Christian churches, they argue.
The situation in Villupuram has been further complicated by protests from the local Christian community, who have staged demonstrations at the district collector’s office, demanding that the church not be demolished. This has resulted in delays from the Villupuram district administration in addressing the issue, leading to accusations of bias from Hindu Munnani.
ஆக்கிரமிப்பு எனக்கூறி, இந்துகோவில் என்றால் உடனே இடித்து அகற்றும் திராவிட மாடல் அரசு…
கிறிஸ்தவ சர்ச்க்கு மட்டும் சலுகையா…?விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், திருவெண்ணெய் நல்லூர் தாலுகா, பருகம்பட்டு கிராமத்தில் சட்டத்திற்கு புறம்பாக பொதுப்பணித்துறைக்கு சொந்தமான இடத்தில் கிறிஸ்தவ சர்ச் pic.twitter.com/0N5VmPg3eB
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 17, 2024
Hindu Munnani has criticised what it perceives as a “partition attitude” by the Tamil Nadu government, accusing it of selectively enforcing regulations against Hindu temples while showing leniency towards unauthorized Christian churches.
