In a calculated attempt to consolidate the Christian minority vote bank, DMK MLA from Trichy, Inigo S Irudayaraj, delivered a speech laced with misleading data, selective outrage, and outright falsehoods at a “Youth Uprising Camp” organized by controversial pastor Mohan C Lazarus well known for his anti-Hindu rhetoric and alleged mass conversion operations.
Addressing the gathering, Irudayaraj began by painting a bleak and exaggerated picture of Christian persecution in India, asserting that minorities “have no security” and are “under attack.” He cited census figures to downplay concerns over religious conversions, claiming that Christians made up 2.3% of the population in both 1951 and 2011. “How can 2.3% convert the 97% majority?” he scoffed, conveniently ignoring numerous documented cases of coerced or incentivized conversions, which are criminalized under Indian law.
He said, “In this country, especially in democratic India, we do not have security. The situation of our votes being divided persists. There is a belief among fascist forces that Christian people can be suppressed and oppressed, and today, these forces have attacked us. For example, in 1951, India’s population was only 36 crores, but according to the 2011 census, it was 146 crores. In 1951, Christians constituted only 2.3% of the population in this country. Even in 2011, with 146 crore people, Christians still remained at 2.3%: not even one percent increase. However, ‘Sanghis’ call us a ‘conversion group’. They don’t stop there. How can we, who are 2.3%, convert them, who are 97%? Religious conversion is not about asking people to join our religion. It is only when they change their minds and accept Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that they can come here. They cannot just come easily. But what do they say? They always make the same accusation. Furthermore, converting religion is an individual’s personal right, Who has given this to us? by the Indian Constitution. Article 25 B of the Constitution states that anyone can change their religion whenever they want. Yet, ‘Sanghis’ keep calling us a ‘conversion group’.”
More alarmingly, Irudayaraj falsely claimed that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) a law designed to counter terrorism was being weaponized against Christians in BJP-ruled states. “Today, across India, how are we being suppressed and oppressed? the BJP rules in all states from Arunachal Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh. In all these states, severe laws like the anti-conversion law have been imposed. Moreover, they are imposing the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act), which is meant for terrorists and those acting against the nation, on us. Please do not forget this. They consider us terrorists, alleging that we are converting people. Based on this, there have been numerous violent incidents orchestrated by other religious fundamentalist gangs. Recently, in Maharashtra, Schaefer Javin Jacob and Stephen Vijay Kadam from California, USA, were arrested under the same law on false charges of attempting religious conversion in Maharashtra state. As you all know, a while ago, two sisters were arrested in Chhattisgarh. For what? For allegedly converting people. The whole nation rose up, and everyone fought against it. As a result, they were released a week later. Many Christians like them have been arrested and imprisoned without a fair trial. Do not forget this. Christians are being discriminated against in education and employment opportunities. Christian churches, homes, and commercial complexes are being attacked.”
What Is The Truth?
Contrary to Irudayaraj’s claims, the American nationals in Maharashtra were booked under the Foreigners Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the nuns in Chhattisgarh were charged under the Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 a state-specific anti-conversion law. No UAPA was invoked. While religious freedom is equal to all, but forced or fraudulent conversions violate constitutional safeguards and are subject to state-level anti-conversion laws – laws that have been upheld in various courts.
Still, he pressed on with his fearmongering, stating that Christian churches and homes were under constant threat and that Christian individuals were being routinely imprisoned without fair trials again without any verifiable evidence.
In one of his most inflammatory claims, Irudayaraj declared, “On average, two Christians are attacked in this country every day. This is a situation where an average of two Christians is attacked daily. For such a situation, we should truly pray and leave it to the judgment of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Today, in the BJP-ruled state of Gujarat, 6,500 Christian women have been victims of sexual assault incidents. If a complaint is filed about this, what should happen? They should be arrested, and action should be taken. But instead, the transport police in Gujarat have put up posters saying, ‘Stay home to avoid sexual assault’. What kind of situation is this? They’ve put up posters telling people not to come out and to stay indoors.”
This figure appears to be a twisted version of a discredited AAP claim, which referred to all women, not Christian women specifically. According to the NCRB 2022 data, Gujarat reported 610 rape complaints, not 6,500 as Irudayaraj claimed.
To add to his list of falsehoods, the DMK MLA also criticized the central government for scrapping the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), calling it a direct attack on educational opportunities for minorities. However, the Union Government clarified that scholarships for SCs, OBCs, and minorities continue under broader UGC and CSIR fellowship schemes. The MANF was discontinued due to redundancy and overlap, not communal bias.
This pattern of half-truths and distortions seems aimed at deliberately manufacturing a sense of victimhood among Christians not to defend their rights, but to provoke distrust, deepen polarization, and serve the DMK’s electoral strategy.
Irudayaraj’s speech is not just another case of political rhetoric it represents a dangerous cocktail of misinformation, communal manipulation, and irresponsible politicking. At a time when India needs unity and facts, this kind of targeted propaganda only fans the flames of division.
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