55 converted at ghar wapsi event in Pollachi

COIMBATORE: In one of the biggest reconversion exercises in the state so far, Hindu Munnani members claimed that they reconverted more than 55 people to Hinduism at an event at Pollachi in Coimbatore district on Sunday.
The reconverted people from various Christian and Muslim families in and around Pollachi said they returned to Hinduism by choice.The event was held in a wedding hall and organizers prevented police from stopping the event by saying it was a personal event in a private building.
“I converted to Christianity last year to marry a girl from that religion. I was baptized and named John Stephen. But the girl changed her mind and refused to marry me. So I am returning to Hinduism,’’ said N Prakash, 27, an auto driver from Moottampalayam near Pollachi.
Arumugam, a daily wage labourer from Kumaran Nagar in Pollachi, married Mubina Begum six years ago. He approached Hindu Munnani saying his wife and two daughters wanted to convert to Hinduism.
“We did not lure anyone by offering money. Those who wanted to reconvert approached us and we helped them,” said R Sivakumar, south district secretary of Hindu Munnani, Pollachi.
The event was held at a wedding hall at Chinnampalayam in Pollachi. Hindu Munnani members presented copies of the Bhagavad Gita to the new converts, who were whisked off soon after the event to prevent them from talking to the media.
T Gopalakrishnan, Pollachi west urban secretary of Himdu Munnani, said that if the identities of those who had reconverted was revealed, they might be targeted. “We plan to approach the police and get protection for them,” Gopalakrishnan said.
Initially, police did not allow the Hindu Munnani members to conduct the event. But the functionaries opposed the police saying it was being held in a private hall.
“Hindu groups are spending money to lure the people from other religions to Hinduism. This will neither help any religion nor society,” said K Ramakrishnan, general secretary, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam.
Hindu Munnani, however, brushed aside the charges, stating that Hindu groups have become soft targets. “No one is ready to blame other religions for conversion efforts,” said Sivakumar.