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Over 3000 Christian schools and colleges, and the few Muslim educational institutions across Tamil Nadu, remained closed as community leaders began a daylong fast on Thursday to protest against the state government's ordinance banning forced religious conversions.
The protests will end in a rally, where Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi will rub shoulders with priests and moulvis in demanding the withdrawal of the ordinance.
The protests coincide with the commencement of the assembly's monsoon session, in which the replacement bill for the ordinance will be presented.
On Wednesday, the Madras high court had questioned the wisdom of involving students in political and religious matters. However, it declined to order a stay on the closure of the educational institutions.
Incidentally, it is the first time since last year's assembly polls that the DMK chief will share a platform with non-All Indian Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party leaders.
The Congress, CPI and the Communist Party of India-Marxist were allies of the AIADMK in the polls.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, which continues to be the DMK's partner at the Centre, has commended Jayalalithaa's decision to ban forced conversions.
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