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Disturbing

The report that Christians of the Ladapadar village in Orissa are being forced to convert to Hinduism under threat is disturbing. Faith is not a branded commodity to be changed at the drop of a hat.

Who decides whether a faith is good or bad? Is it not something to be decided by the individuals concerned?

GM. James,

Chennai

It is inhuman to force Christians saying they should convert to Hinduism if they wish to return home from relief camps. Of course, one does not expect much from the Orissa government which chose to remain a silent spectator at much graver moments.

One cannot help feeling that the anti-social elements have succeeded in creating a communal rift. As a Hindu, I hang my head in shame and appeal to all the people not to use the name of my sacred religion to achieve their selfish ends.

Vikram Maruvada,

Visakhapatnam

I fail to understand this new fad about conversion, and reconversion to Hinduism initiated by Hindutva activists. None of the ancient Hindu scriptures mentions conversion to Hinduism. A person can choose to be or not to be a Hindu. Hinduism has never thrived on conversion. All this frenzy about reconverting to Hinduism is therefore meaningless.

Anil Kumar,

Tirupur

National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan has said it is possible to ban the Bajrang Dal but it cannot be sustained. This shows that since its inception, and despite its role in the Gujarat carnage, public display of weapons and distribution of trishuls, and other acts of terror, the government has not kept a tab on the outfit’s activities.

Over the years, Bajrang Dal activists have been branded “nationalists” and their criminal activities condoned.

Gautam Navlakha,

New Delhi

The letter written by eminent personalities of The PEN All-India Centre, Mumbai (Oct. 13), makes interesting reading and rightly so. All right-thinking persons express their anguish at the recent happenings in Orissa and Karnataka. But the causes for such acts should also be addressed and removed. Any party which directly or indirectly promotes hatred and violence should be kept away. Political parties based on religion or caste should be banned.

U.N. Bhat,

Bangalore

The signatories have rightly pointed to the indifferent attitude of the police in Orissa and Karnataka, and the failure of the Centre to uphold the rights of the minorities. We hope their clarion call will send the government into action mode.

J. Eden Alexander,

Thanjavur

The letter is well-timed but fails to send the right message across. I do not understand what prevented the writers from calling for a blanket ban on the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.

Secular-minded readers wish the sangh parivar to be exposed any number of times as veiled condemnations impact the reactionary body least. It is time the parivar outfits were banned.

K. Sekhar,

Visakhapatnam

The balanced and consistent reports in The Hindu on the Kandhamal violence and atrocities have certainly awakened the inert administration of the State and the Centre.

Once again, The Hindu has made India proud through its secular credentials and affirmed to the minorities that secularism is still alive in the country.

R. Jayakumar,

Kandhamal

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