COIMBATORE: A series of incidents across Tamil Nadu involving religious conversion attempts, forced labor, and alleged religious appeasement have stirred controversy and sparked criticism of the ruling DMK government’s response. Allegations include attempts to convert Hindu women and children to Islam, the holding of Hindu women as bonded laborers, and Christian evangelism in public spaces, all of which have intensified public discourse on religious freedom and social values in the state.
The recent arrest of Hassan Badhusha, an ex-SDPI member from Coimbatore, has drawn particular attention. Badhusha was apprehended after allegedly attempting to convert a Hindu woman, Aarthi, and her daughter, through manipulation and coercion. According to the complaint filed by Aarthi’s husband, Sathyamurthy, Badhusha was a close family friend who initially borrowed Rs. 2 lakh from Aarthi, a software engineer, to support his business. Later, Sathyamurthy alleged, Badhusha tried to influence Aarthi and their 14-year-old daughter to embrace Islam, providing them with copies of the Quran and disparaging Hinduism in an attempt to sow doubt about their beliefs.
In his complaint, Sathyamurthy stated that Badhusha had promised to marry Aarthi and urged her to divorce her husband. He accused Badhusha of creating discord within their family and inciting his wife and daughter against their Hindu faith. Police have since arrested Badhusha and charged him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to obscenity, causing hurt, provocation, religious insult, and intimidation. Responding to the incident, Hindu Munnani, a prominent Hindu organisation in Tamil Nadu, has expressed concerns that conversions aimed at married Hindu women threaten to erode family values in the state.
குடும்பப் பெண்களை குறிவைத்து
குடும்பத்தை நாசமாக்கும் லவ் ஜிஹாத்!
பஞ்சாயத்து பேசும் ஜமாத்,
சிதறிப்போன இந்து குடும்பம்!!கோயம்புத்தூர் துடியலூர் சேரன் காலனி பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்தவர் சத்தியமூர்த்தி. தனது மனைவி ஆர்த்தி மற்றும் குழந்தைகளுடன் வசித்து வருகிறார். pic.twitter.com/JsDSoQXZQn
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) November 4, 2024
Meanwhile, SDPI released a statement distancing itself from Badhusha, clarifying that he had been expelled from the party and relieved of all responsibilities. SDPI, a political organisation often linked with the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), has been accused by critics of fostering radical ideologies, although the party denies any ties to militant activities.
https:/twitter.com/SanghiPrince/status/1850089693247164926a
Concerns Over Prayer Practices in Schools
In another development, a Hindu Munnani complaint recently spotlighted allegations of Muslim students conducting Friday prayers in Aanaimalai Tiwanbhadur Pudur government school. According to the organization, the headmistress had initially permitted the prayers for one week but seemed unaware that they had continued. Hindu Munnani petitioned the Pollachi Deputy Collector and District Education Officer, calling for an end to such activities in government-run institutions, which they argue should remain secular in practice.
https://x.com/hindumunnani_tn/status/1849813573112926398
The group questioned why prayers were allowed in schools when other religious practices, such as brief Saraswati Poojas during the Navaratri festival, often face resistance in public institutions. Hindu Munnani’s complaints about the school headmistress are under review, and authorities have yet to respond to the demand for stricter enforcement of secular policies in educational settings.
Allegations of Religious Training and Proselytisation
Adding to public concerns, Hindu Munnani raised alarms over reports of arms training allegedly provided to young Muslim men across various districts in Tamil Nadu. The organisation claimed that these training sessions aim to turn Tamil Nadu into a conflict-prone region akin to Kashmir or West Bengal. Hindu Munnani has called on state and central authorities to launch an investigation into these claims, citing concerns about a rising threat to public order and safety. The specifics of the alleged training programs, including those involved and the funding sources, remain unclear.
Conversion attempts by Christian evangelists have also come under scrutiny. In Erode district, a video circulated showing Pastor Kirubanandan and his associates visiting Bhavani Nagar government hospital and encouraging Hindu patients to turn to Christianity for spiritual and physical healing. Several Hindu patients reportedly confronted the pastor, questioning his motives and arguing that the hospital should focus on medical treatment rather than religious conversions. This incident has renewed calls for stricter regulation of proselytization in public spaces, particularly within healthcare facilities.
Forced Labour and Abuse Allegations in Valasaravakkam
In Valasaravakkam, Chennai, local police recently rescued two young women and a teenage girl from a flat where they were allegedly held as bonded laborers by a woman named Rashida. The three women, aged 17 and 20, reported severe mistreatment, claiming they were forced to work from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. without adequate rest or food. According to reports, they faced physical abuse and were branded with hot iron for minor errors. The young women were from Andhra Pradesh and had entered Rashida’s service after their families took loans of Rs. 1 lakh each.
The case has shed light on the broader issue of forced labor in Tamil Nadu, prompting activists and authorities to call for more stringent enforcement of labor rights, especially among migrant workers. Rashida has been arrested, and authorities have stated they will investigate further to uncover similar cases of exploitation.
Allegations of Bias in State Response
Public outrage has intensified over what critics perceive as selective law enforcement in Tamil Nadu, with some Hindu activists alleging that the ruling DMK government favors certain religious groups over others. Hindu Munnani and other Hindu organizations have pointed to instances where complaints about anti-Hindu hate speech and social media insults against Brahmins and other Hindu groups went unaddressed, while cases filed against individuals challenging the DMK’s policies have been pursued more rigorously.
They argue that these incidents reflect an “appeasement policy” by the DMK, which, they allege, emboldens certain religious groups to freely engage in proselytization and other activities. Hindu Munnani and other organizations argue that state authorities often ignore complaints of religious offenses against Hindus, treating them with less urgency compared to grievances from other communities. Critics also claim that police complaints from Hindu organizations often remain unresolved, which they attribute to the DMK’s political affiliations.
In a related incident, six people, including a Muslim couple, were arrested recently in connection with the death of a 15-year-old girl employed as a babysitter. The girl reportedly suffered physical abuse and torture, raising further questions about the welfare of domestic workers and the vulnerabilities they face, particularly young, underprivileged girls.
Ongoing Debate Over Secularism and Religious Practices
The recent incidents have raised pressing questions about secularism, social values, and family structure in Tamil Nadu. While Hindu Munnani and other groups argue that conversions targeting Hindu women and youth are eroding Tamil Nadu’s cultural values, critics of Hindu Munnani claim that the organisation is amplifying these incidents for political gain, aiming to stoke religious tensions ahead of upcoming elections.
The DMK government, meanwhile, faces increasing pressure to balance secular principles with religious freedoms, as it navigates complaints from both Hindu and minority communities. The allegations surrounding the government’s handling of religious issues have ignited a heated public debate on the boundaries of religious freedom and state intervention.
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