Kottayam: At least 63 persons, most of them belonging to Christian families, embraced Hinduism at two temples in Kottayam district under the initiative of Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Christmas day Thursday.
The ceremonies were held at Sri Krishnaswamy Temple at Tirunakkara and Puthiyakavu Temple at Ponkunnam in the district.
Yesterday, 11 persons had embraced Hinduism near Kayamkulam in Alappuzha district in yet another case of conversion since the last week in the state.
A batch of 30 persons belonging to eight families of Scheduled Caste Christians had re-converted in the district on December 21.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there had been no forceful conversions in the state.
Kerala all these years has steered clear of any controversy when it came to forced religious conversion, Chandy said.
Chandy was responding to a question on the reported conversion of 35 people from Christianity to Hinduism in two Kerala districts last Sunday.
"We have always steered clear of any such happenings and there has been no forceful conversions in our state. If anyone decides to convert, it's their decision. If there is a need for any government intervention, it would be done, but for that to happen, there has to be forceful conversion and it does not take place here," he said.
The peculiar situation in Kerala is that Hindu SC/ST people enjoy government reservations which are not open to Christian SC/ST people.