Pastor Manhandled in Chhattisgarh

On 25th February, 2007 a mob of 70-80 Hindu extremists belonging to Bajrang Dal surrounded the house of Pastor T.N. Jose at around 7 p.m. in Surgi village of Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. The pastor was manhandled and threatened for life by this mob. The incident took place just as the pastor had sat down for his daily evening prayer.

It is said that the pastor had been given an ultimatum to leave the village accusing him of forcefully converting villagers.

The mob made him put his signature on a plain paper stating that the pastor had come to the village to convert and that he would go from the village of his own free will. The paper also stated that the pastor was not being forced by anyone to leave the village.

Pastor T.N. Jose who is fearing for his life has taken shelter in his brother Pastor T. M. Babu’s house close to the village in Rajnandgaon. Pastor Babu also runs a Bible School under the banner of Indian Christian Mission which is a registered trust.

It must be noted here that the pastor’s sister, a doctor by profession who runs a clinic in Surgi village was also threatened and locked up by the extremists for one whole day. However, she was released in the evening after which she ran through the jungle at night despite the dangers, to reach an area housing a factory which served as a landmark for her brother to pick her up and take her to safety in their brother’s house.

Bible College students attacked and beaten in Maharashtra

GFA founder concerned about "increased beatings" against Christians in India.

NEW DELHI, INDIA — Five young men studying at a Bible college run by mission group Gospel for Asia (GFA) in the Indian state of Maharashtra were reportedly recovering from "severe injuries" Tuesday, February 20, after they were beaten by an angry anti-Christian crowd.

The beatings happened late Sunday, February 18, while they evangelized on the streets of a local village, GFA said in a statement. Two of the students were listed in "critical condition."

The incident allegedly happened after the men, who were not identified apparently for security reasons, departed from their Bible college campus late Sunday for what GFA described as "their usual evening outreach." They "walked about three miles (4.8 kilometers) to a nearby village to give out Gospel tracts entitled ’How to Know God’ and witness to the people," GFA said.

Suddenly, the young men reportedly saw five "angry militants" running towards them. "We’re going to kill you!" the militants were quoted as shouting at the students. "As the extremists began beating the Christians, others joined until 40 anti-Christians were participating in the attack. The beatings continued until all five students were severely injured," GFA claimed.

STUDENTS HOSPITALIZED

The students were rushed to the hospital, but doctors initially refused to treat them saying police should first write a report about the attack, GFA reported. "Finally, after the report was written, the hospital admitted all five of the young men. Two of the men are in critical condition with serious head injuries and bleeding," GFA said.

GFA President K.P. Yohannan said the latest attack was part of a wider crackdown on devoted Christians in India. "Unfortunately, attacks like these are becoming an almost daily occurrence." He said his group had urged supporters to "pray that these young Bible college students will heal quickly and will be encouraged," to continue their activities. He also said GFA still hopes that those who beat the students will become Christians.

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Assam village force Christian to convert to Hinduism

Mob attacks family over conversion in Assam

Rahbindra Narzaree, a resident of Bashbari village,Kokrajhar district Assam, was attacked by his Hindu villagers for refusing to reconvert to Hinduism.

Narzaree had converted to Christianity from Hinduism after getting married to a Christian Bodo lady two years ago.

Villagers subsequently pressured him to return to Hinduism, which he did but he reconverted to Christianity again.

On Feb 6, at a village council meeting, he was again pressured to return to Hinduism.

On his refusal, beaten by a angry mob of Hindus who attacked him with sticks.

Tension prevails around the forest area of Bashbari village under Beshmuri outpost of due to a mob attack on a Christian family on 6 Feb. The family has been facing social boycott for converting to Christianity.

The family took refuge at the Bishmuri outpost under Kokrajhar Police Station.

The police have posted a team of police officials outside the Narzaree's brother's home where the family is taking refuge.

The village is also being patrolled by a police team.

Christian school attacked in Ujjain

Nine arrested for ransacking Christian school in Ujjain

UJJAIN (MP): Nine persons were arrested on Friday for allegedly ransacking a missionary school following the death of two children in a road accident at Barnagar near here, police said.

On the complaint by the school's principal, they were arrested for damaging furniture and breaking windowpanes at St Thomas H S School on Thursday, Superintendent of Police Jaideep Prasad said.

Some Hindu activists attacked the school and accused it of creating a traffic hazard for children by keeping one of its gates closed. They brought down a portion of its wall, damaging some statues after Nikita (four) and Krishnpal (six), were hit by a truck and killed when they were on way to the school, police said.

Mild force was used to disperse the crowd on Thursday, they said.

TOI


Nine arrested for ransacking Ujjain school

Rubina Khan Shapoo

Friday, February 9, 2007 (Ujjain):

Nine people have been arrested in Ujjain after a mob of 150 people ransacked the St Thomas Higher Secondary School on Thursday. The police had to use force to control the crowd.

The mob beat up the father of the school, tore down a wall, broke furniture and window panes after two school children were run over by a truck near the school.

They claimed the accident happened because the school kept one of its gates closed.

The nine arrested include the local Shiv Sena president, a Bajrang Dal leader and a BJP leader. They have been booked for rioting.

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Jesus Christ lived in India, was buried in Kashmir: RSS chief

"JESUS CHRIST lived in India for 15 years, was buried in Kashmir and learnt his lessons of love and non-violence from reading Buddhism," claimed RSS Sarsanghchalak K S Sudarshan on Sunday.

Addressing a tribal congregation organised by the Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra at Bargaon village in Dindori district, situated about 90 km from Jabalpur, the RSS chief claimed that Jesus had come to India when he was 12 and returned when he was 27.

"Christian evangelists should know that what Jesus Christ preached, he had learnt during his 15-year stay in India," Sudarshan averred. The function was held to mark the birth centenary of second RSS Sarsanghchalak M S Golwalkar. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present at the function.

Yet another claim that Sudarshan made at the gathering was that Christ die not die on the Cross. "He (Jesus) was only injured and after treatment returned to India where he actually died. His grave still exists in a place called Isha Nagar in Kashmir."

Cautioning tribals against Christian evangelists, Sudarshan said Christianity considered every one a sinner by birth. "Can God send a newborn to the world as a sinner," he asked?

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he had given more teeth to the anti conversion law in the State to ensure that no one converted to another faith due to allurement, fraud and coercion. He said that the State was committed to ensuring strict action against cow slaughter.

He also said that the State Government was popularising Sanskrit language and a Sanskrit University would be opened in Ujjain shortly. The state government will bear half of the expenditure for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, Chouhan said.

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Christian meet attacked in Bihar by Bajrang Dal activists

Patna, Jan 30 (IANS) Tension gripped a Bihar town after a Christian prayer meet was attacked by suspected Bajrang Dal activists, injuring several people.

According to police, a group of armed men Sunday attacked the meet at a Christian missionary in Sasaram in Rohtas district, 200 km from here. They beat up people present there, tore down posters and burnt books and leaflets.

Complaints have been filed against nine Bajrang Dal activists.

The injured were immediately admitted to hospital.

Witness said that about 40 masked men attacked the Christian prayer meet and warned against holding similar weekly meetings, said K.K. Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sasaram).

"The attackers shouted slogans against the conversion of Hindus to Christianity," he added.

Bajrang Dal leaders in the district were apparently unhappy over the missionary converting many Dalits. In the last two months, nearly 50 Dalit families have reportedly converted to Christianity.

IANS

Bible School Students beaten in Himachal Pradesh

Three Bible school students in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh were beaten on the morning of Saturday, January 27, and their Bible school vandalized by a group of Hindu extremists who oppose the growth of Christianity in their nation.

The students had divided into groups and were witnessing in nearby villages when they were confronted and beaten by members of an extremist group. The group then took the students to the police station.

Shortly after the attack, a mob of about 60 members of this same group came to the home Bible school and vandalized the facility.

"They caused a lot of damage," reported a field correspondent, "breaking the windows and shelves and tearing apart the books before they left."

The extremist group is a branch of the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or "World Hindu Council"), an organization dedicated to promoting an ultra-nationalistic philosophy that “to be Indian is to be Hindu." Groups such as these often oppose Christian work with violence.

Local police responded to the attack, locking up the Bible school and taking everyone—staff, students and a women's ministry team—into custody.

"It was first thought that the police were against us," said the correspondent.

"But then we came to know that the police took them in order to protect them."

By Saturday evening, police released the group and posted four officers to guard the Bible school overnight.

"It is not sure whether or not the fanatics will return," our correspondent stated.

Gospel for Asia currently trains thousands of students in Bible colleges throughout Asia. First-year students typically attend home Bible schools, which offer a more personal mentoring environment, and which then feed into the larger Bible colleges for the students' final two years of missionary training.

Gospel for Asia leaders are asking Christians to pray for this situation to be resolved, for the safety of everyone involved and for continued freedom to preach the Gospel in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh recently became the eighth state in India to pass anti-conversion legislation. If the bill is signed into law by the governor, it would impose fines and prison time on both those who embrace Christianity and those who introduce them to Christ.

Christian beaten up in Karnataka, Pastor threatened

Please pray for Pastor Neil Armstrong of the Full Gospel Assembly, who has been threatened by fundamentalists today in Harpanahalli, Davangere district, Karnataka state. He has been asked to not hold the Sunday service on coming Sunday, 28th January 2007 of his house Church. He has been threatened with dire consequences if he disobeys the threat and goes against the directive.

He received news that on 22nd January 2007, the radical outfits operating in the area had meetings, whereby they decided to come down heavily upon the Christian community in Harpanahalli a big way. To get their point across, M. Subbarao - a Christian working as a crusher mechanic was badly beaten up today morning. The fundamentalists informed Pastor about this incident, and further told him to not try to assist the Christian Brother, now in the police lock up.

Pastor Armstrong who is also the president of the Harpanahalli chapter of the Karnataka Missions Network, is being watched carefully by the fundamentalists. He has been told not to step out of his home, or to try and network with other pastors for any help. Please pray for God’s hand of protection to be upon Pastor Armstrong at this time. Pray also for the Lord to guide Pastor with His wisdom at this crucial time. Pray that the police would be impartial as we seek their help in this matter. In the meanwhile we are trying to find out a way to get in touch with bro Subbarao. Please pray for his safety as well.

Christians beaten up in Badwani, Madhya Pradesh

Christians assembled for Sunday morning devotions at the Philadelphia Church in Nawapada, Badwani were targeted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on January 28th 2006. The shouts and screams of a Christian woman, who was one of the first to be beaten up, drew the support of the Hindu neighbors who came to the rescue of the Christians. Assembling in large numbers to defend the Christians, the Hindus forced the RSS men to withdraw from the area. However, in the skirmish three Christians, namely Bablu, Guman and Sushil, went missing.

Initially it was feared that the three had been kidnapped. After searching at length, they were found at the Badwani Police station. The RSS had got them grounded at the police station on charges of forceful religious conversions. When asked to release the young men, the Thana Inspector insisted they would not release them till the investigations were not complete. To make matters worse, the RSS men brought in two more believers whom they insisted they had found involved in conversions. Pastor Hatey Singh and Pastor Raju contacted us to intervene on their behalf.

We got in touch with the Superintendent of Police (SP) looking after Badwani, who was helpful enough to hear out the details in an impartial manner. He addressed the situation in due time, and at night by 8.30 pm all five had been released. However the updates that we have received from the Christians who were in the police station is that the SP has "forbidden" them from baptizing people from now on and has given them an instruction to take people to Gayatri Mandir whenever they want to help people i.e. helping alcoholics or praying for them.

The situation in Badwani, and the adjoining areas - Jhabua and Nimad; is increasingly being communalised. The Hindutva forces are targeting these heavily populated Christian areas to enforce their majority status. Please pray for the safety of Christians residing in Badwani, Jhabua and Nimad, that the Lord’s special hand of protection would be upon his people even as large scale Hindu gatherings are being organized to ‘reawaken’ the Hindus of the area.

More than 80,000 people take to the streets to defend missionaries accused of stealing

The Chattisgarh state government, which accuses missionaries of stealing the land of Tribal people in order to convert, has filed 262 cases against the Church to force it to “give back” the land. Demonstrators defend the Church and want politicians to stop manipulating the law.

Jashpur (AsiaNews/Agencies) – More than 80,000 Tribals have taken to the streets in the eastern state of Chattisgarh in defence of the Church accused by the local government of stealing lands from locals in order to convert them.

The land on which Catholic missionaries have built mission institutions “was not stolen from us, but was regularly sold to the Church by our ancestors, which now uses it to help,” said one demonstrator. “We are happy for the schools and hospitals,” which now stand on the contested land, because they “educate us and provide us with medical care”,.

The demonstration, which took place last Monday, is a response to a local court decision requiring the Sisters of the Holy Cross return to Tribals 12 acres of land on which they built a monastery and a school.

The judge motivated his decision based on local legislation 170 (b) which bans land sales in Tribal areas to non Tribals.

The state government, which is controlled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatya Janata Party, filed 262 cases alleging unlawful occupation of tribal land by Catholic missions.

“We have never asked that the land be returned,” said Tarcitius Toppo, one of the demonstrators. “It was never stolen and is not used to convert us but only to help us. The government should stop manipulating the law for its own purposes.”

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VHP activists attacks Christian Meeting in UP

VHP stall alleged conversion proceedings by Christian missionaries in UP

Chakeri (UP), Jan 21 (ANI): Activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal today stalled what they called was an alleged conversion proceeding by Christian missionaries.

About 30 VHP and Bajrang Dal activists disrupted a meeting conducted by Christian missionaries accusing them of attempting religious conversion.

"We came to know that in Richa guesthouse, some Christian missionaries were holding discourses on religious conversion. We would not have allowed that to happen. If they try to conduct such meetings again in future, we will give them a fitting reply and will take to the streets," said Sunil Singh, a VHP activist.

About 100 attendants who were forced out of the hall however, said the discourses were on religious teachings and not on conversions.

"There was no attempt converting people's religion. You can ask anybody who attended the meeting," said Anita Joseph, one of the attendants of the meeting.

Hindu hardliners have repeatedly accused Christian missionaries of engineering conversions by incentives of jobs and education to the poor.

Christian activists deny the charge and say they are only involved in charity work.

Christians make up less than three percent of India's more than one billion population. (ANI)

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Pastor and Wife beaten in Karnataka

Pastor David and his wife were beaten up for preaching the Good news to the slum dwellers in Bangalore

Pastor Paul David 29 years and his wife Prasanna Kumari (25) were beaten up by fanatic mob on 15th January '07.Pastor David has been in the ministry for about 10 years in and around Bangalore. Prasanna Kumari his wife is a convert from a lower Hindu caste and has completed the graduation course in Law.

Pastor David lived in J.P Nagar, Bangalore and conducted church services at his house for the last 2 years. About 40 members attended, most from the slum near by. But David’s messages against sin caused misgivings among others in the slum. Anti-social elements in the slum warned the pastor not to preach such messages as people were turning away from activities such as prostitution, drunkenness, theft etc.They raised objections several times even as services were going on and warned him not continue.

On11th January'07 some people gathered around pastor's house intimidated him and forcibly vacated their belongings. He was also beaten up by the mob. Fearing further violence, he and his wife moved out of the house and were forced to spend the night on a terrace as they had no place to go. None of the church members came forward to help the couple fearing attack from antisocial elements. The couple managed to keep their belongings in some space offered by a church member and fled on an overnight bus, so that they passed the night. The next day they returned to Bangalore and managed to find a small room in the slum to keep their belongings, and stayed there for 2 days. At 6:30 pm on 15th Jan, a group of people gathered around their room and again started accusing them.

They physically attacked both the pastor and his wife, snatched their mobile phones and gold chain from them and beat them mercilessly. The pastor insisted that he had not done any wrong and demanded to be taken to the police station, but of course the antisocial were not comfortable to go to the police station. However after about one and half hour of beating them, the mob took the couple to the Mico layout police station at 8 pm and lodged false complaint. The police let the couple go at 10 in the night and asked them to return to the police station next day morning.

Fearing a fresh attack, the pastor and his wife ran out of the police station, reached a school compound, and stayed under a half constructed structure the whole night. Next day morning, they escaped from the place, and reached a friend's place and stayed there for a day.

During the mob attack, they lost their cell phones/money/ gold chain etc. All their belongings are kept in the slum and they are afraid to go there for fear of life.

Please keep Pastor David and his wife Prasanna Kumari in your prayers.

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Hindu radicals to protest against Christian orphanage in Himachal

Activists belonging to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Sangh Parivar outfits will hold a sit-in dharna in front of Pastor Behal orphanage at Kamgra town in Himachal Pradesh on 20 January 2007. The activists are demanding that Pastor Behal and his family along with other Christian workers leave the place and stop all their activities in the town.

Pastor Behal is a retired army captain serving the people in Kangra. He runs a children home looking after around 15 orphans. He also has a church and a Bible training centre where around 15 students are studying.

The fanatics have accused him of using the children to do various works for him. They are also not happy with the service offered by the Christian institution in the area.

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Evangelists attacked in NCR region

Four evangelists were attacked while they were preaching and distributing tracts near Indirapuram in Uttar Pradesh by a mob of orthodox Hindus on January 2, 2007. The evangelists were part of a group of seven who belong to the Brethren Assembly.

The evangelists were beaten up and their van was also damaged. They were accused by the Hindus of offering money so that people will convert.

After the evangelists went to the police station, they were asked by the police not to unnecessarily create disturbance in the area. They were further asked to take permission before preaching or distributing tracts in the future.

Rewriting of history to blot out Indian Christians

Rajasthan state government to "correct imbalances" in official history in an effort that professional historians and Catholic Church consider unscientific and an effort by the ruling party to impose Hindu nationalism

Rajasthan's state government in India plans to 'correct imbalances' in its official history, chronicled by colonial officials. It will do so by revisiting all 41,000 villages and 186 cities and towns in this western Indian state to collect fresh historical material and set the record straight.

The decision has however caused controversy and criticism. Professional historians but also the Catholic Church have said that the project is unscientific; instead, they view it as another attempt by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to impose its Hindutva-centred nationalism.

Under the plan, called Aapno Dharti, Aapno Log (our land, our people), starting January 4 school teachers are to talk to village leaders and elders to check for any errors in the histories of local villages, towns and cities.

For Rajasthan's Education Minister, Ghanshyam Tiwari, whilst the history written by British author Colonel James Todd during the days of the Raj was believed to be authentic, it was controversial in certain points and so should be reviewed.

The project, which should be completed by 2008, includes listing and recording the state's numerous monuments, historical and heritage sites, old idioms and phrases, folk dance, folk songs and all other culturally, socially, economically and politically relevant items.

Data collection will be done using pre-prepared standardised forms that will be distributed in all of the state's villages, towns and cities.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has slammed the decision to rewrite history books claiming that the operation is part of the BJP'S attempt to 'saffronise history'. Saffron is the BJP's colour.

For Fr Babu Joseph, spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, "researching and writing history is a complex exercise and cannot be left to untrained citizens. Myths, legends and hear-say cannot be the basis of history as a scientific discipline. History cannot be arbitrarily written, especially when it has the potential of creating social cleavages".

Other sources, who preferred to remain anonymous, told AsiaNews that in its attempt at historical revisionism the BJP will likely try to belittle and distort the important work Christians have done in favour of the oppressed and the marginalised.

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'Christian bashing' disturbs Christmas in central Indian state

By Francis Maria Britto

1/3/2007

RAIPUR, India (UCAN) – Christmas 2006 brought a bundle of trouble for Christians in a central Indian state.

Newspapers in Chhattisgarh carried negative reports about missioners along with Christmas greetings and features. Some Catholics in Raipur Archdiocese stayed away from Christmas programs, fearing violence or harassment by right-wing Hindu groups.

The pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people's party) has ruled the state for the past three years. Raipur city, the Chhattisgarh capital, is 1,745 kilometers (about 1,080 miles) southeast of New Delhi.

Monica Bagh, a village catechist, said members of her Baloda parish refused to hold traditional Christmas programs this year for fear of their village chief. The local official "was coming around to watch whether we were celebrating Christmas," the dalit Catholic told UCA News on Dec. 27. "So we did not even make the crib in our (village) chapel."

Most parishioners are Gada, one of the groups referred to as dalit, low-caste groups formerly considered "untouchable." They have a tradition of receiving an Infant Jesus statue in their home after Christmas. The family would sing carols and venerate the statue with incense, flowers and coconut.

In Singharpur, no dalit Catholic went to their parish church for Christmas celebrations, fearing Hindu neighbors, villager Rashid Bagh told UCA News.

Earlier, a rumor spread in the region that a witch would come begging for an onion and chapati (flat bread) at houses not marked with the phrase Om Namah Shivai, expressing homage to the Hindu god Shiva. A member of each family she visited would die, it was said. Most families, including Christians, scribbled the phrase with cow dung on their mud walls.

Christian students seemingly were targeted as well. Previously the state's educational institutions had observed a winter holiday the week after Christmas. The BJP government not only canceled the holiday but also conducted semiannual examinations before and after Christmas. "The exams have spoiled the Christmas mood," 10th-grader Padmini Sona told UCA News.

One BJP parliamentarian even led a "reconversion" ceremony on Christmas Eve. It made front-page news in a local daily.

Nav Bharat (new India) reported that about 110 Christians became Hindus at the ghar vapasi (homecoming) conducted by Dilip Singh Judeo in Basna, base of a Raipur Archdiocese parish. The paper also reproduced various allegations Judeo leveled against Christian missioners.

The Hindu activist accused Christian missioners of "secretly" converting Hindus through "fraud and allurement."

The paper said that initially 543 people had registered for the ceremony. Judeo later said his people would investigate the reasons why many had not turned up despite "voluntarily" registering their names.

Father Felix Fernandez, the Basna parish priest, dismissed the reconversion program as "a flop." No Catholic from his parish attended the program, he told UCA News.

However, Purendar Sagar, a catechist of nearby Baloda parish, told UCA News on Dec. 31 that some "nominal" Catholics from his Baelmundi village went in two jeeps to the Hindu program, "expecting to get something."

Chitranjan Tandi, a dalit Christian teacher in Navapara village, alleged that the Hindu organizers "pestered" him to attend the reconversion ceremony. Although he did not go to that ceremony, he also did not attend Christmas Mass, fearing harassment.

On Christmas Day, Hitavada, a local English-language daily, reported that police arrested Church of God Pastor Rajendra Prasad and 10 other Christians in Dhamtari town for "alluring and forcing" people to embrace Christianity. A state law bans conversion through fraud, allurement or by force.

Soon after the arrest, a mob gathered at the police station and shouted slogans against missioners. Police official Vijay Agrawal told media the police confiscated Christian literature from those arrested and registered a complaint against them.

Pastor James Ram told media the arrested Christians were going around singing carols and distributing literature to interested people, when some Hindu activists complained to the police and gathered a mob. Distributing Christian literature is not an offense, Pastor Ram insisted.

In another incident, police on Dec. 21 arrested a Christian schoolteacher and registered a case against her for distributing copies of the New Testament to 10th-grade students. They reportedly acted on a complaint from the principal. Members of Dharam Sena (religion army) demonstrated at the school and condemned the "conversion" of students.
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Another State in India Passes Anti-Conversion Bill

Christians term Congress Party's move in Himachal Pradesh a 'cruel joke.'

NEW DELHI, January 3 (Compass Direct News) - The Congress Party has passed an anti-conversion bill in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, where only 8,000 of the more than 6 million people are Christian.

The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill was passed on Saturday (December 30) during the four-day winter session of the state assembly. It remains to be signed into law.

Vijay Kumar, principal secretary of the state home department, told Compass that under the bill any person found forcibly converting another person could be imprisoned for up to two years and/or fined up to 25,000 rupees (US$565).

Kumar also said that any person wishing to convert to another religion must give prior notice of at least 30 days to the district government. "If he or she fails to do it, the penalty will be a fine up to 1,000 rupees (US$23)," he said.

Asked if the government had any official data on forcible conversions in the state to justify the bill, Kumar said no such data was available.

"It is not a reactionary measure, but a proactive one, to infuse confidence among the people of the state that the government is thoughtful of the issues," he said.

Dr. John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council, termed the move of the state government a "cruel joke."

"[Congress Party leader] Sonia Gandhi had written to me expressing her government's and party's opposition to such laws being passed by the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] governments," he told Compass. "But now, her own party in Himachal Pradesh has brought about such a bill."

Dayal, who is also member of the National Integration Council, said the state chief minister, Vir Bhadra Singh, was playing into the hands of Hindu extremists.

"It is no honor to the Congress Party, and it must disown the bill and have it withdrawn," he added.

Ministry as 'Allurement'

Known as "Freedom of Religion" acts, anti-conversion laws are in force in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Christians point out that anti-conversion laws allow Hindus to term any social work among people of other faiths as "allurement," and any talk of eternal destiny as a consequence of sin as "force."

Anti-conversion laws recognize the sacrament of baptism as conversion and hence require churches to report all baptisms of non-Christian converts to government officials.

The opposition BJP, a Hindu nationalist party that had in September 2006 promised to enact an anti-conversion law if it came into power in the state assembly elections in 2008, welcomed the bill’s passage, reported Asia News International (ANI).

The leader of the opposition, Prem Kumar Dhumal, told national daily The Indian Express last September 22, "After coming to power in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP would bring legislation against religious conversion and slaughtering of cows [considered holy by Hindus], as the present government has completely failed to protect the rights of the Hindus."

On April 7, 2006 the BJP passed a similar bill in Rajasthan state. It also passed bills to amend the existing anti-conversion laws in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on July 25 and August 3 respectively.

In addition, the party passed a bill to amend dormant anti-conversion legislation in Gujarat on September 19 of last year.

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu state, J. Jayalalithaa, had announced the repeal of that state's "anti-conversion" law (the Prohibition of Forcible Conversion of Religion Act) in May 2004, following the poor performance of her party in April 2004 general elections.

www.compassdirect.org

More incidents of hitting out at Christians

2/1/2007

Today at 13:00 Hrs. 9 Christians are being beaten up by a group of 100 Hindu fundamentalists because their relatives were visiting and celebrating New Year festivities.

Mr. Nahum Das retired manager from NTPC and his family members were visiting Mr. Gulab Saket (also a Christian) in village Devra, Thana Waidhan, (Singroli) Dist. Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh. During their visit to their relative’s house a mob of 100 Hindu fundamentalists claiming to be from various 'Dals' and 'Senas' started beating them. The Police is not taking any action what so ever and giving these goons a freehand to vandalize.

Similar 45 incidents have happened in Dhamtari and Raipur, Chhattisgarh, during the Christmas week wherein two pastors have suffered fractured bones and multiple injuries. No preventive action or assistance from the state government machinery is being given.

Yuletide Carol-Singers Arrested, Church Burned in India

Christmas Eve services disrupted in several states.

NEW DELHI, December 27 (Compass Direct News) - Hindu extremists burned down a church in India on Saturday (December 23), arrested carol-singers on Christmas Eve and disrupted yuletide services in several states. One Christian suffered a fractured hand, and another lost his hearing.

Extremists burned down a thatched church in Boriguma area, Koraput district of Orissa state on Saturday night (December 23), preventing church members from celebrating Christmas there. The congregation had already decorated the building for Christmas festivities, but everything was destroyed in the fire.

Asit Kumar Mohanty, state representative of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), said GCIC was investigating the incident to determine who was responsible.

On Christmas Eve, about 45 jeeps full of Dharma Sena members circled through the streets of Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state, announcing that they would close down all church services held on Christmas Day.

"Dharma Sena is a Hindu fundamentalist group supported by the VHP and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party state government," Arun Pannalal, general secretary of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, told Compass.

"They had already carried out several attacks in the week before Christmas," he added. "These public threats are just another step in their campaign to rid the state of Christians."

Carol-Singers Arrested

Later on Christmas Eve, Pastor James Ram and 10 other Christian missionaries were beaten and arrested after singing carols in Jalampur, a remote shanty town in Dhamtari, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

Members of the Hindu extremist Bajrang Dal attacked about 20 Christians who had gathered in a church in Jalampur; they stormed into the church, beat some of the Christians and destroyed hymnbooks and Bibles.
Five Christians were injured in the attack; one suffered a loss of hearing due to a blow to his head, while a Bible school student’s hand was fractured, according to a GCIC report.

"The missionaries were caught bribing poor Hindus in a slum colony to convert to Christianity," the Times of India reported, quoting Bharat Singh, superintendent of police in Dhamtari. "They were promising people economic help and jobs in exchange for conversion."

Pannalal told Compass that the charges of forced conversion were false: "The Bajrang Dal members were simply annoyed by the chanting of Christmas carols."

Ram was released by about 10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and the other believers were released by 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Day.

The arrests have heightened communal tension in the Dhamtari area; in the past few days, Dharma Sena and Bajrang Dal members have been out patrolling the streets, according to Pannalal.

Prayer Service Disrupted

Hindu extremists also prevented tribal Christians in Tilonda village, Thane district of Maharashtra state, from celebrating a joint Christmas prayer service on Christmas Eve.

Over 400 Christians had gathered for the event.

Before the service could begin, however, a large mob from the local Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad barged into the assembly, shouting slogans against Christianity and driving the Christians away from the prayer hall.

Fearing further violence, church officials canceled the event.

According to Dr. Abraham Mathai, vice-chair of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission, there were three other incidents of violence against tribal Christians in Thane district in the week before Christmas.

Mathai had written to local police asking for protection for the Christmas Eve prayer service.

"The police were present, but they did nothing when the extremists arrived," Mathai said.

'Reconverted' to Hinduism

The Hindu extremist group Dharam Jagran Samiti (DJS or Society for Religious Revival) yesterday (December 26) claimed it had "reconverted a large number of Christians" in Agra district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Asian News International reported.

"Those Hindus who had converted to Christianity, or those who were lured into joining it by Christian missionaries, were called here to return back to the Hindu fold with respect and on equal terms," said Gajeshwar Singh, regional chief of the DJS.

On December 23, police asked the Good Shepherd Community Church (GSCC) in Agroha, Hisar district, Haryana state not to celebrate Christmas.

"Some people, seemingly belonging to the Bajrang Dal and VHP, lodged a complaint in the Agroha police station alleging that the curch was converting Hindus," the Rev. Reginald Howell of the GSCC told Compass.

He said the complaint was filed when the church members were singing Christmas carols in the church.

Following the compaint, the police summoned seven Christians, including the pastor of the church, identified only as Romi, and interrogated them. They were released after the village head requested the police.

"The Christians were called to the police station against on December 24 and ordered not to conduct any service on Christmas," Howell said. "However, after representatives of the Christian Legal Association of India intervened, the police allowed the church to celebrate Christmas," he added.

Police Prevention

In the only positive report, officials prevented an anti-Christian rally in Dangs, Gujarat, on Christmas Day, heading off further violence.

The All India Christian Council (AICC) has thanked the chief minister of Gujarat state, Narendra Modi, for preventing anti-Christian violence in Dangs district during Christmas.

AICC Joint Secretary Samson Christian said the heads of both Dangs and Bhavnagar districts refused permission to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to hold a massive rally in the region on Christmas day.

The rally was announced after eight statues of local gods were desecrated by unknown persons on December 14. Hindu extremists blamed Christians for the sacrilege and announced plans to hold a rally in the area on December 25.

Christians asked local authorities to ban the event, since previous rallies in the area at Christmas time have resulted in violent attacks. In a rally held during Christmas week 1998, Hindu extremists destroyed several Christian churches and institutions and attacked many individuals.

"Tight police security was maintained in the Christian-dominated areas, particularly the tribal district of the Dangs, which has a history of Hindu-Christian clashes during Christmas celebrations," The Hindu daily newspaper reported.

www.compassdirect.org

Inter-religious marriage stalled in Madhya Pradesh by VHP

Submitted by kashif on Sun, 2006-12-24 15:56.

Bhopal, Dec 24 (IANS) A government official in Madhya Pradesh has allegedly refused to allow an inter-religious marriage between a Christian man and a tribal woman at the behest of a Hindu group, triggering a political controversy.

Meena Gond (36), a polio-afflicted tribal girl and Peter Abraham (38), a Christian rickshaw-puller, were not allowed to tie the nuptial knot by a marriage official following opposition by Dharam Sena, an offshoot of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The Sena said such a marriage would boost "conversion" in the state.

The couple had applied for marriage in the Jabalpur district marriage office in October. The mandatory 40 days notice period - during which objections, if any, could be filed - expired on Nov 13 but the official, Deepak Singh, refused to solemnise their marriage because "the groom is a Christian while the bride is not".

"Peter is a Christian. And he lured the tribal girl by offering her money. Sooner or later, she will be forced to change her religion," maintained Sudhir Agrawal, convener of the Sena in Mahakaushal region.

"We have specific knowledge that some Christian missionaries are doling out money to people like Peter to influence tribal people to convert their religion," he said.

The opposition Congress party has threatened to launch an agitation if the poor couple was not allowed to marry by the year-end.

"We conveyed our protest plans to the district collector," said Jabalpur district Congress president Naresh Saraf.

Madhya Pradesh Christian Association president Indira Iyengar has condemned the Sena's attitude saying, "How does the Dharam Sena come into picture when both the bride and groom are adults?"

"Even the government provides incentives for marrying a tribal girl. The law enforcing agencies should deal with the matter strictly," she said.

Meanwhile, Meena's brother Radhey Gond has denied the Sena's allegation.

Radhey said: "How can a daily wage earner afford to entice any woman by providing money?"

Peter, on the other hand, is running from pillar to post to convince the officials that there was nothing fishy about his marriage.

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