Jagjivan Ram said in Agra that, “the Harijans who embraced Islam … had been left with no other option. He criticised the Hindu religion for denying rights to Harijans. If the Hindus do not accept the Harijans as Hindus, what is the point in their staying within the fold of that religion? (The Hindu, 30-6-8)
Pejawara Swami of Udupi said in Kurnool, (AP) that “caste Hindus were responsible for driving Harijans to the arm of other religions. The Swamiji spoke regretfully of the torment and humiliation that caste Hindus heap on Harijans. He agreed that caste Hindus treat Muslims and Christians with greater respect and tolerance than Harijans” (the Hindu, 30-6-81)
Makwana, Union Minister of State for Home said in Madras that “conversion could not be done by lure of money or coercion … What was very clear was that the Harijans had been treated badly, humiliated and attacked and their property was looted and burnt. From newspaper reports, it was obvious that out of humiliation and anger they had converted to Islam … the Hindu religious leaders must, therefore, learn from history. (Hindu-24-6 81)
“Makwana said the Harijans who embraced Christianity and Buddhism had found that casteism was being practiced in these religions also. Probably the intelligent Harijans of Tamil Nadu had chosen Islam which welcomed them with open arms”. (UNI reports in Deccan Herald, 26-6-81)
V.G. Prasad Rao, Times of India, Staff Correspondent at Madras, in a report says: – “It was not mere economic gain that drew the Harijans into the Mohammadan fold but rather a yearning for social equality. Another interesting fact is that some Christians have also become Musalmans. This is obviously to protest against the caste system imported into Christianity in the South”. (Times of India, 1-7-81)
Threat to Embrace Islam:
UNI reports from Salem that 70 untouchable families of Devarayapuram village in Namakkal taluk of Salem district have threatened to embrace Islam on Aug. 1, if untouchability practiced against them by the Hindus is not ended by then. (Deccan Herald, 3-7-81)
Untouchables Externed
P.R. Kuppuswamy, Advocate, Karur (T.N.) writes: About 600 untouchables are on bail with the condition to stay 200 to 250 miles away from Ramnad. They are starving.
Makwana Visit to Meenakshipuram:
Union Minister of State for Home, Makwana, who had earlier made an appeal to the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Kamakoti Peeta urging him to help stop conversion of untouchables to Islam, visited Meenakshipuram and other Tamil Nadu villages where mass conversions had taken place. Talking to newsmen on July 4 at Madurai after the visit, he said untouchables in Tamil Nadu were feeling insecure because of the rising criminal atrocities of Hindus. He said, “Utter neglect of the Harijans and insult and humiliation at the hands of caste Hindus were stated to be the reasons for the religious conversions which were reported only in Tamil Nadu”. He said the Harijans, who had embraced Islam, had told him that they had lost faith in Hindu leaders and Hindu society, as a whole. Those who had been converted felt they were treated with equality and respect by their co-religionists. Conversion is happening because of social injustice. Asked if he suspected involvent of foreign money, he said he was not in a position to say anything on it. The government “was investigating”. (Deccan Herald 5-7-81, quoting UNI report)
“Organizer” Editorial
The RSS official journal in an editorial under the headline: “From Meenakshipuram to Rehamat Nagar,” (5-7-81) says: “if the Harijans of Meenakshipuram had any grievances, they could have ventilated the same and sought redress. After all, ours is an open and democratic society and not an Islamic country where dissenters can be flogged or have their hands or feet cut. Why did anybody have to use their grievances to destroy them socially, culturally, emotionally? We are very sorry to say that what has happened in Meenakshipuram is not an outburst of local grievances but a small expression of an old conspiracy to destroy Hindus, Hinduism, and Hindustan”. The editorial further says: “the whole things is immoral … And in so far as it has excited Hindu-Muslim feelings, it has threatened public order”. It calls upon the government to protest to the Sri Lanka government for the misconduct of its Speaker. It also calls upon the Election Commission not to recognise the conversions, and demands a probe into the flow of foreign money into India.
