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Tribal Christians to become Hindus for quota benefits |
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Written by Correspondent
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Wednesday, 12 August 2009 |
 Some 200 tribal Christians in Tamil Nadu have expressed their willingness to become Hindus to help them enjoy government reservations and other benefits meant for Scheduled Tribes, a news report said.
The members of Paliyar Hill tribe, who live near Kodaikanal, a hill station 450 km south of Chennai, had converted to Christianity more than two decades ago.
They have now petitioned the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to help them convert to Hindusim, said a report in Hindustan Times Aug. 11
In recent years, VHP and other Hindu organisations have been very active, especially in the tribal belt spanning Chhattigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Orissa, in reconverting tribals who had embraced Christianity.
Called “Ghar Wapsi” (homecoming), these ceremonies have often led to serious violence between Hindus and Christians — as in Kandhamal in Orissa last year —and charges of coercion and inducements from both sides.
(Source: Indian Catholic, August 12, 2009, http://www.indiancatholic.in/news/storydetails.php/13006-1-11-Tribal-Christians-to-become-Hindus-for-quota-benefits ) |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 August 2009 )
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