http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Work+with+Dalits,+Gowda+tells+pontiffs&artid=TjS28nIRbGM=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=
Work with Dalits, Gowda tells pontiffs BANGALORE: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has dared seers and pontiffs opposing conversions to work in "dalit colonies instead of petitioning the government to ban conversions.'' He has also opposed the proposal of several pontiffs and seers to bring in an anti-conversion law to stop further conversions. "This is against freedom of religion as specified in the fundamental rights of the Constitution,'' he argued and criticised "forced re-conversions,'' in Orissa and a few other States. "Stop shedding crocodile tears about conversions. Instead work in dalit settlements,'' he told those opposing conversions. He was targeting a delegation of seers and pontiffs led by Pejawar Mutt pontiff Visvesha Teerta who had recently called on the governor to take steps to ban conversions. "Instead of blaming Christians for conversions, they should understand why it is happening. There is no point in petitioning the governor,'' he remarked without taking any names. "Poverty, unemployment and widening disparity are the root cause of all conversions,'' he opined, and pointed at how Scheduled Caste people in Tamil Nadu had embraced Islam. "If these economically and socially backward section of people are accorded equal status and facilities, why would they get converted to other religions,'' he wondered. "Instead of blaming Christians, they should go to dalit.
