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Anti-conversion Bill should have gone to select panel: Swamy

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 6 . The Janata Party president, Subramanian Swamy, today called for safeguards against misuse of the Tamil Nadu Act prohibiting forcible conversions.

Talking to reporters, he said the Governor could return the Act, or refer it to the President, who in turn could, refer it to the Supreme Court. The Bill should have been referred to a select committee. The Government could have allayed minority apprehensions before pushing through the Bill.

However, an Act to prevent forcible conversions was necessary. Also, obscurantism could not be allowed in the name of allowing the right to propagate religion.

Dr. Swamy criticised an ORG-MARG survey saying it was commissioned by pro-Hindutva forces to identify Muslims who were anti-BJP and anti-U.S. The survey, which sought the name and address of respondents, contained queries about their opinion on various aspects of the life of Hindus and Muslims.

The party had prepared a monograph, `Inter-basin transfers of river waters for national development', and it would be released at a district conference in Theni on November 29. The monograph would be presented to the film actor, Rajnikant, who had advocated the launch a people's movement on the issue, said Dr. Swamy.

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