No place for forced religious conversion in Tamil Nadu: Minister Sekar Babu

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE) Sekar Babu commenting on Class 12 student's suicide, allegedly due to abuse caused by the school management for refusing to convert to Christianity, said there is no place for forced conversion in Tamil Nadu.  "The government treats every religion on par, this is my stance and the Chief Minister's stance," he added.

While calling for an anti-conversion law, the members of BJP have been protesting against the school in Thanjavur's Michaelpatti.

The Class 12 student from Ariyalur's Vadukarpalayam had come home from the school hostel to her house for the Pongal holidays where she fell ill. The girl had consumed pesticide, in a video, where she was asked the reason she revealed that the school authorities have been discriminating against her for allegedly refusing to convert. She said she was forced to clean all rooms and toilets in the hostel.

Read more: Class 12 girl kills self in Thanjavur, parents allege forced conversion

Her parents too have told the media that not just their child but even they were allegedly persuaded for conversion in exchange for their child's educational expenses two years ago. Following the refusal, the girl said she was abused by the authorities ever since.

The police have arrested the school's warden Sagayamary (62), but the conversion angle and the child's video remains to be examined.

With the clamour for anti-conversion law and strict action against the school bolstering, the parents have refused to receive their daughter's mortal remains who died on January 19.