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The Tamil Nadu law banning religious conversions has kicked off a row, with the Christian community reacting strongly, the first time it has done so after the Staines murders in Orissa in January 1999.
Archbishop of Madurai M Arochikaswamy, who is chairman of the United Minorities Forum, has dubbed it a pro-Hindutva move by the Jayalalithaa government to curry favour with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
He has threatened the closure of all Christian educational institutions in the state if the ordinance is not withdrawn, lest education be construed as 'allurement' under the law.
Arochikaswamy and other Christian community leaders are planning to approach the courts, arguing that the ordinance is unconstitutional and abridges the freedom to practise religion, which is one of the Fundamental Rights under Article 19 of the Constitution.
The Muslim community's reaction has been muted, barring an official condemnation of the law. They view the law as yet another attempt by Jayalalithaa to woo the Sangh Parivar after the 'temple annadhanam scheme' and the budgetary provisions for cow protection this year, but say they have nothing to fear from it.
Muslims say their community leaders do not need 'force' or 'allurement' to effect conversions, and point to the 'Meenakshipuram conversions' in southern Tirunelveli district, which was initiated by dalits frustrated with the practice of untouchability and drawn by the absence of a caste system in Islam.
Political reactions to the law were on expected lines. Even before their national leaders came out with their official positions, Tamil Nadu leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, and the Communist Party of India, Marxist, came out with their own editions.
The local BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and VHP have welcomed the law, and recommended it for other states.
Congress and communist leaders in Tamil Nadu have, however, criticised it as yet another bid by Jayalalithaa to appease the saffron brigade.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi criticised the new ordinance and feared its misuse like the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He scoffed at Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati's call to enact a similar law in other states. "Given a chance, the shankaracharya would ask even for a global law," Karunanidhi sneered.
Incidentally, K Veeramani of the Dravidar Kazhagam, who is considered a staunch supporter of Jayalalithaa, has not reacted to the ordinance.
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