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Alan Hobson, advocacy officer for India of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, told Christianity Today that the state machinery had tried to hamper the event. "I'm here as an independent observer to check if forced conversions are being made. And all I can see is the force that government is using to prevent a smooth and peaceful event. I'll certainly take up this issue all over Europe."

Press and camera crews thronged the gathering. Organizers declared that such mass conversion events would be held throughout India.

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Christianity Today's previous coverage of the Tamil Nadu conversion law includes:

Indian State Bans Conversion | Christians say Tamil Nadu ordinance threatens relief work. (Oct. 11, 2002)

Other coverage of the conversion includes:

India's row over conversions—BBC (Dec. 6, 2002)

India conversion goes ahead—BBC (Dec. 6, 2002)

Crackdown over India mass baptism—BBC (Dec. 6, 2002)

December 6 conversion to counter ordinance—The Hindu (Oct. 27, 2002)

For more coverage of India, see Yahoo! full coverage.

Past Christianity Today articles about India's Dalits include:

Quitting Hinduism | 'Untouchables' find new dignity in Christian faith. (Nov. 27, 2002)

50,000 Dalits Renounce Hinduism | Local Christians support decision to exit the caste system, but missions hype spoils the event. (Jan. 10, 2002)

Christians Encouraged as 50,000 Dalits Leave Hinduism | Low-caste Hindus see conversion as their only escape from oppression. (Nov. 11, 2001)

New Delhi Conference Condemns 'Immense Suffering' in Caste System | National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights plans to appeal to United Nations. (Mar. 9, 2001)

Churches Angry that Indian Census Ignores 14 Million Christian Dalits | Only Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist members of "untouchable" caste being counted. (Mar. 2, 2001)

Justice Delayed for Dalits | Christian untouchable is murdered, but police stall investigation. (Oct. 19, 2000)

Study of Indian Clergy Exposes Inequalities in Church Leadership | Many low-caste and rural Indians are Christians, but few have positions of influence within the church. (Oct. 9, 2000)

Thousands Mourn Death of 'India's Father' | Evangelist Bakht Singh led a fruitful life of teaching and founding churches (Sept. 22, 2000)

India's First Dalit Archbishop Holds 'No Grudge' Over Predecessor's Attack | Once "untouchable" Dalits make up bulk of country's Christians (May 11, 2000)

Hindu 'Untouchables' Threaten Mass Conversion in December | Two hundred families using Christianity as political pressure tactic (Dec. 1, 1999)

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December (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46