VHP conducts ‘ghar wapsi’ of 100 Christian tribals, later claims 900 reconverted

Stepping up its ‘ghar wapsi’ campaign to mark its golden jubilee Saturday, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad “officially brought back to the Hindu fold” some 100 Christian tribals who had “embraced Hinduism earlier” in south Gujarat.

VHP activists later claimed as many as 900 had been “reconverted”.

The ‘ghar wapsi’ ceremony was conducted this afternoon at Arnai, a village in Kaprada taluka of Valsad district.

VHP members and some religious leaders watched as tribals from six villages were taken to a hot spring stream, made to take a dip. They were then made to sit for a ‘havan’ and told to throw rosaries into the fire as a confirmation of quitting Christianity. Religious leaders sprinkled ‘Gangajal’ on them for “purification”.

“This is a homecoming,” announced ‘kathakar’ (story teller) Praful Shukla who performed the rituals. “Hindustan Hindu ka desh aur Hindu ka desh hi rahega (Hindustan is a country of Hindus and will remain so),” Shukla told the gathering. He said those “reconverted” had embraced Hinduism a couple of years ago and the Saturday event was their “official entry” into Hinduism again.

Rankaben Somabhai Kadat, one of the “reconverted” told The Sunday Express: “I wanted to return to Hinduism. I had converted to Christianity after my brother fell ill and went to a ‘father’ (Christian priest) for treatment. He was cured and he became a Christian. My brother and his children are Christians even today. But I decided to become a Hindu again. Nobody forced me do so.”

Gujarat VHP chief Kaushik Mehta said the Arnai event had “nothing to do with religious conversion” and was “a homecoming” for which people had “volunteered without greed”.

“Yeh ghar wapsi ka karyakram hai, dharm parivartan ka nahin. Jo log lobh aur bhay se doosare dharm me chale gaye the, wo wapis aa gaye hain. Ye log mukhyadhara me aa rahe hain (It is a homecoming event, not religious conversion. Those who were lured by money or intimidated to convert have returned. These people are coming back into the mainstream),” Mehta said.

Dharmendra Bhavani, chief of Dharm Prasar Vibhag of the VHP in Gujarat, claimed 170 families who had embraced Christianity were “reconverted” into Hinduism. “The event should not be read as dharm parivartan (religious conversion). These people wanted to return to Hinduism, the religion of their ancestors. For them, it is ghar wapsi,” he said. 

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VHP claims 're-conversion' of 200 Christians in Gujarat, Congress says it's unfortunate

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) "re-converted" over 200 tribal Christians to Hinduism on Saturday by holding rituals at Aranai village in Valsad district in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat, claimed a leader of the outfit.

The right-wing group also said the re-conversion was "voluntary" and not by force.

"As part of the ongoing 'ghar-wapsi' programme, VHP today (Saturday) re-converted 225 people from Christian community and took them back into Hindu religion," said Valsad district VHP chief Natu Patel.

He said VHP organised a 'Maha Yagnya' (ritual of the sacred fire) for "purification" of the tribals before taking them back in Hindu-fold and also gave each of them a copy of Bhagwad Gita.

Another VHP worker, Ashok Sharma, said around 3,000 people had gathered at the 'ghar-wapsi' programme in Valsad.

"VHP greeted around 225 people back in their own religion in Valsad. We have not forced them, they came on their own wish," Sharma said.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi said on Sunday that such acts conducted by right-wing outfits only created a bad impression about India across the world.

"This is totally unfortunate whatever is happening. In the world, India had a different image of having people practising various religious beliefs, speaking different languages -- based on which the country was built... These actions will only create bad impression about the country," Alvi told ANI.

He also said that if such re-conversion happened through coercion or inducement then it was a clear violation of law.

"Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and others are trying to destroy the country. If these people have been converted by coercion or inducement then it is a clear violation of law. But then what kind of image of India will be in the world," he added.

The incident came against the backdrop of a raging debate over such programmes being organised by Sangh Parivar groups in various parts of the country.

A controversy had erupted early this month when a right wing group had organised a 'ghar-wapsi' drive wherein it reportedly converted about 100 people from a minority community in Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

The incident had created a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha, with the Opposition demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A similar incident was also reported from BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh where a party MP had claimed 39 tribal Christians were re-converted to Hinduism in Maoist-hit Bastar district in October this year.

In its response to the Opposition over the conversion issue, the BJP has demanded bringing of anti-conversion law.

If people are converting voluntarily,there should be no problem, but if force is being used, State Govt should take action: Venkaiah Naidu
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 21, 2014

If opposition is really concerned, they should support the Govt for anti-conversion bill: Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP pic.twitter.com/U4WhIAoBw4
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 21, 2014

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Coverage by Zee News. Link Here

Ahmedabad: The Opposition on Sunday sharpened its attack on Hindu outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad which claimed to have reconverted over 200 Christian families to Hinduism yesterday in Gujarat's Valsad district.

Accusing VHP of carrying out forceful conversion, Congress senior leader Digvijay Singh said, “Personally I've no problem on Anti Conversion Law as VHP and Bajrang Dal are doing the same. Conversion by force and inducement.”

Personally I have no problem on Anti Conversion Law because VHP and Bajrang Dal is doing just that. Conversion by force and inducement.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) December 21, 2014

RSS wants Anti Conversion Law against conversion by force and inducement . Are they sure? Would they treat Ghar Vapsi as Conversion ?
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) December 21, 2014

Extreme Right Wing is flexing its Muscles.VHP/RSS through Hindutatva and their Organisations through rewriting History and Economic Policies
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) December 21, 2014

Criticising the crusade, Father Dominic told Zee News that the VHP is forcefully converting people.

“I don't accept that anyone who has been a Christian will convert to other religion by personal choice. VHP is forcing people and luring them to convert their religion. I've got an information that in Bihar people were threatened with dire consequences if they do not convert. These people were told that they will be ostracized if they would refuse to accept Hinduism,” he said.

CPI(M) leader, D Raja also backed the Opposition voice and said, "India is not a Hindu Rashtra, but a democratic republic.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat government spokesperson Nitin Patel said that they had the information about several families willing to convert to Hinduism.

“Gujarat government has nothing to do with it. The people converted willingly. However, if their will be any complaint regarding forceful conversion then we will take action,” he said.

Clearing BJP's stand on conversion issue, party leader Shahnawaz Hussain told ANI that the party is against forcefull conversion, but causing disruption in House won't get Opposition anywhere.

“If Opposition is really concerned, they should support the government for anti-conversion bill,” said Hussain.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday called for an anti conversion bill in Parliament. “Bring law against conversion in Parliament if you don't like conversion,” Bhagwat was quoted as saying by PTI.

After organising its 'Ghar Vapsi' programme, the right-wing outfit, VHP, yesterday said the re-conversion was "voluntary" and not by force.

"As part of the ongoing 'Ghar-Vaapsi' programme, VHP today re-converted 225 people from Christian community and took them back into Hindu religion," said Valsad district VHP chief Natu Patel.

He said VHP organised a 'Maha Yagnya' (ritual of the sacred fire) for "purification" of the tribals before taking them back in Hindu-fold and also gave each of them a copy of Bhagwad Gita.

Another VHP worker, Ashok Sharma, said around 3,000 people had gathered at the 'Ghar-Vaapsi' programme in Valsad, which culminated on Saturday.

(With Agency inputs)

Christians attacked near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Hindu extremists disrupted a Christian prayer meeting and beat up Christians in Varanasi on December 19, 2014. Varanasi is the constituency of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pastor Shobhnath and local Christians were participating in prayer and fasting in a village in Chiraigaon Block, Varanasi. While the believers were praying and worshiping, 10-12 people came in a Bolero (SUV), entered the house forcefully, and started beating the Christians.

They took away Bible and other literature and also destroyed household furniture.

The matter was reported to the local police. No FIR has been filed but the police has invited both the parties to come and settle the matter on December 21, 2014.

The attackers are supported by BJP and it allies. Some of them are also office bearers of RSS.

Local MLA Mr. Uday Lal Maurya of BSP has lent support for the Christians.

Please pray for Pastor Shobhnath, his family and the Church.

Pastor arrested in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh on chrages of forced and fradulent conversion

Lucknow: Over 70 Hindus have been allegedly converted to Christianity in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district. While district officials are probing the matter, a suspect from an outfit called India Hope Center has been arrested, police said.

A district official said office bearers of the outfit are active in the Kamalpuri village and that they were trying to allure villagers into accepting Christianity.

However, District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar told a news agency on Thursday that it has not been confirmed if the conversions took place.

"We have send officials to the village and are trying to ascertain the veracity of the charges," he added.

Kumar said the district administration was vigilant about such issues. Intelligence officials, however, said the India Hope Center activities "had picked up in the area" for the past few months, especially after the floods.

"They had distributed relief material to the villagers and it is feared that in lieu of this they tried to allure the villagers into embracing Christianity," a police official said.

Police said they are looking for the India Hope Center head. Sources said that the 'baptism' of villagers Lallan, Bhaniram, Amarjeet, Happy, Shyamlal, Jawahar Lal, Benchan Prasad and many others was done by Bishop Mahendra Kumar.

The converts were also seen wearing crosses but they have now gone underground for fear of police, a local said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded a thorough probe into the episode.

"It is amazing and disturbing that the chief minister is mum on this issue while he does not miss any chance to score political points when the issue is about Muslims being converted to Hinduism," said Vijaya Bahadur Pathak, state spokesman of the BJP.

Meanwhile, a series of 'Ghar Wapasi' (home coming) events are lined up for Thursday in Allahabad and Varanasi. Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders Ashok Sinhal and Sumeru seer Narendranand Saraswati will camp in Varanasi to make the events a success.

Advocating a stern law to curb all religious conversions, Singhal said that he will not disclose the event venue for now and would proceed with the home coming events.

A home department official told IANS that district administrations across the state were being sensitised on the matter.

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Christians forcibly converted into HInduism by VHP in Bihar

Three of the dozen Hindus who converted to Christianity in two Bihar villages have returned to the Hindu fold after they were threatened with a social boycott, an official said Thursday.

Nearly a dozen poor Hindus, including women, were converted to Christianity at Barohiya village and Gangaldeh villages in Bhagalpur district, 200 km from here, early this week.

“Three of those who converted to Christianity have returned to Hindu fold at a ‘ghar wapasi’ (returning home) ceremony by the VHP,” police official Durgesh Kumar said.

He has denied that villagers threatened those converted and said that the village is peaceful.

“Police have been closely monitoring the situation in the village and will not allow any one to create trouble,” he said.

But a villager, who did not want to be quoted, said that those converted to Christianity were given an ultimatum of social boycott by the villagers.

Rakesh Sinha, a local Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, said the three were persuaded by a VHP team to return to Hindu fold.

Right-wing Hindu organisations have alleged that Christian missionaries allured them to convert by promising them money.

Sinha said the VHP, Bajrang Dal and the RSS will protest against Hindus being converted to Christianity by allurement.

A probe began Wednesday after Bhagalpur District Magistrate Virendra Prasad Yadav had ordered to look into the conversions.

According to villagers, those converted had been suffering from some health problems and were suggested to follow Christian practices as remedial measures, and hence they converted.

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Press statement by Christian leadership in Delhi

PRESS STATEMENT

New Delhi, 18^th December 2014

We meet you at a time when the entire world, every parent on earth, is grieving the loss of 132 innocent children shot dead in Peshawar in Pakistan. That such brutality is seen in the 21^st century is evidence of the dangers of fanaticism and extremism hate and violence acting in the name of faith is a challenge to society at large.  We extend to the people of Pakistan and specially its children our heartfelt condolences. We remain in solidarity with them as we pray for the souls of the dead students.

We are reminded again of the message of Jesus Christ to eschew hate, to work for peace, to forgive those who hurt us, and to love our neighbours.

This Christmas season, therefore, we come to you with a heavy heart and great concern of the sense of apprehension and fear in our community at the incidents of violence against our Churches and personnel in various parts of the country, and specially in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and now in the National Capital Territory of Delhi where  the St. Sebastian’s Church in Dlishad Garden, East Delhi was torched in what we think is an act of malicious arson on 1^st December 2014.

The gutting of the St. Sebastian’s Church, as well as the other incidents of targeted violence in other parts of the country, speak of extreme police and administrative impunity and disregard not only to the sentiments and religious feelings of our community but also the guarantees of the Constitution of India.

These acts of violence do not stand alone, nor are they isolated incidents. They are quite part of a series of interconnected actions by various non-State actors closely associated with the ruling dispensation. The official celebrations of a good governance day on Christmas day as detailed in government circulars sent to educational institutions throughout the country to organise compulsory events on a day that is holy to us, Members of the Union Council of Ministers have called for national laws against conversion, and a Common Civil Code, politically targeting the Christian and Muslim communities without saying it in so many words.

What is more dangerous, and threat to national peace and harmony, is the well thought out campaign in the name of Ghar Wapsi, which is organised  not just by fringe elements, but by senior members of Parliament belonging to the ruling party. Their pronouncements question the identity and patriotism of India’s several religious minorities. The fact that people are being offered  Below Poverty Line Cards and other privileges within the domain of government adds to our fear that these elements enjoy official patronage.

It is being made clear to the minorities that while the Government won its mandate on a platform of “development and good governance’, the radical groups see it is an endorsement of their programme of hate and religious nationalism which they call Hindu Rashtra. This is a blatant attempt to sabotage the Constitution of India that guarantees freedom of faith, adhering to the United Nations Bill of Rights. Article 25 (i) assures the freedom to every citizen of India to profess, practice and propagate one’s religion and beliefs. This was the result of a great debate that took place in the Constituent Assembly.

With its wonderful diversity and ancient cultural, linguistic and ethnic identity, the State maintains equal respect for all faiths, and for people who profess no faith. In a secular and democratic India, there is no place for a state religion. India is not a theocracy. Religion has no place in the national political discourse.

In the states where dubious and ironically named Freedom of Religion Acts have been used against minorities, their overwhelming powers have allowed the police and bureaucracy to harass, arrest and punish clergy, religious workers and institutions. If that was not enough, the non State actors and members of religious-political groups have felt empowered to coerce and terrorise the people, often settling personal scores or indulging in land grab.

The media may already be aware but, we would like to highlight some of the recent incidents of targeted violence and attacks on Christians in the country which we have already conveyed to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister in our memorandum:

On Sunday, 30^th November 2014, two house churches in Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh were attacked. Chhattisgarh has particularly witnessed regular and repeated attacks on the fundamental rights of the minority Christian community. Most recently, according to the media and local sources, local Hindutva groups such as the VHP are pressurising local Catholic missionaries to put up pictures of Goddess Saraswati in their educational institutions. The Catholic schools are also under pressure to rename the principals in their schools, as “Pracharya”, or “Up-pracharya”, instead of the term “Father”, which is usually used.

Some of the other incidents briefly outlined below are representative of the hostility and discrimination being faced by Christians across India.

1.     Social Boycott

·       The entry of and propaganda by non-Hindu missionaries, especially Christians, is banned in more than 50 villages of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region by the local gram panchayats since late May.

·       In Deggarh district, Odisha several tribal Christian families were excommunicated on 28 April allegedly at the behest of Hindu extremists. The three Christian families were excommunicated and deprived from enjoying common facilities of the village road, water and forest land because of their faith in Christ. The well commonly used by the Christians was polluted by adding filth to it. And the Christians have been forbidden to mix or talk to anybody, to take part in any social functions or walk on the main road.  The extremists also threatened to snatch away the Govt. land allotted to the Christians, to cancel their BPL Cards and demolish their houses if they do not renounce Christ.

2.     Physical Assaults

·       On 16 June, a mob of religious extremists brutally beat up Christians and 10 believers including two women who were later rushed to the hospital in Sirisguda, Bastar town, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. About 100 Christians who were denied rations for two months for their faith in Christ were beaten up by a mob.  At about 1 pm, Christians from 52 families came together before the district Food Inspector office when the mob rushed in and started to beat the Christians indiscriminately. The mob beat up the Christians with sticks, kicked and punched them and hurled stones at those who were trying to escape from the scene. Two women were pulled to the ground while the perpetrators stood on them and hit their genital organs.  No FIR was registered against members of the mob.

·       Religious-political extremists locked up a church on June 5 after they beat up a Christian family in Balwanazir, Kaliyanganj, Bihar. The mob comprising of Hindu extremists beat up Sadanandan Singh and his family for their faith in Christ in May and June and finally locked up the church of the Indian Evangelical Team.  Singh and his family were dragged on the road and the entire family including two minor girls were beaten up mercilessly. The extremists have locked up the church and told Singh that he is not allowed to pray in the future in the village.

3.     Desecration of and Restrictions on House Churches or Building Churches.

·       Local religious political groups threatened to harm Pastor Bhikanlal Dhurvey several times for conducting prayer meetings in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. However, the pastor continued to conduct worship services and later started to build a prayer hall in his land. Subsequently, the extremists filed a police complaint against the pastor of illegal construction. The construction has since been stopped and prayers are now being conducted in the homes of local Christians

·        On 18^th May in Kundupur, Karnataka the properties of two churches were allegedly damaged by unidentified miscreants.  An ornamental pot at the entrance of the Holy Rosary church was broken and a signpost leading to St. Antony Church in Koteshwar also was uprooted.

·       On 29 April, three chapels in Irinjalakuda diocese were damaged after allegedly police cleared the way for the "Way of the Cross' procession of the Saint Anthony's Catholic Church. Earlier, on 11 April, extremists had blocked the procession of St Antony's Catholic Church. The police intervened and cleared the passage for the procession as this was the traditional practise for several years and the local temple administration has given permission for the same.

India is a land where different religious faiths have long since flourished and our founding fathers made special efforts to ensure that the rights of all are safeguarded irrespective of our religious beliefs, gender or caste. India is committed to secularism and any attempt to weaken the socio-religious fabric of the nation must be dealt with swiftly and effectively.

We hope and pray that such discrimination and targeted violence will be ended by strong political will and administrative action. We the Christians who are a small religious community need assurance from the government that we are protected and secure and safe in our motherland.

We pray for our fellow citizens and wish them great joy as we greet them this Christmas.

God bless India.

Signed

1.     Archbishop Anil Couto, Archbishop of Delhi

2.     Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop of the Faridabad Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy

3.     Bishop Jacob Barnabas, Syro-Malankara Catholic church

4.     Archbishop Youhanon Mar Demetros, Malankara Orthodox Church of India

5.     Bishop Abraham Mar Paulus, Bishop of Marthoma Church

6.     Bishop Subodh Mondal, Bishop of Methodist Church of India

7.     Bishop Samantroy, Moderator, CNI

8.     Bishop Simon John, Bishop of Believers Church

9.     Dr. John Dayal, former National President, all India catholic Union, Member, NIC

10.  Rev. Richard Howell, General Secretary, Evangelical Fellowship of India and secretary of National United Christian Forum

11.  Rev Vijayesh Lal, Director Religious Liberty Commission, EFI

Press Statement by the Delhi Archbishop over controversy regarding Christmas day

COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION BUREAU
DELHI CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE
9-10, BHAI VEER SINGH MARG
NEW DELHI-110001

PRESS RELEASE

DELHI ARCHBISHOP DEEPLY CONCERNED AND EXPRESSES HIS ANGUISH OVER GROWING CONTROVERSIES REGARDING CHRISTMAS DAY

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 15, 2014

Delhi Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto has expressed his deep concern and anguish at reports of asking CBSE affiliated schools to organize events and competitions on Christmas Day as to mark it as ‘Good Governance Day’ and the surrounding controversies on the same.

The Archbishop also strongly condemns the conversion drives planned by the Hindu groups on Christmas Day and said “it is a violation of Constitutional rights and guarantees to citizens of India such as the Freedom of Faith and the freedom of movement, expression and association”.

Dharam Jagran Samiti plans to convert 5000 Christians into Hinduism on Christmas Day. This move by the above group who are now greatly encouraged, is a grave assault on the fundamental rights of individuals. It is nothing but hate campaign against the Christian community and the Christian faith, the Archbishop said. In the past, large scale violence against the Christian community had been preceded by such hate campaigns.
 
“Christmas Day is a day to celebrate and pray for peace and harmony in the country and world at large”, the Archbishop said.
 
Archbishop Anil Couto called for an immediate end to such malicious hate campaigns and intervention of both the State and Central government in the matter.
 
The community reserves its right to take legal action and approach the courts for stopping these conversion drives and hate campaigns as they violate the fundamental rights of every citizen of this country as enshrined in the Constitution of India.

Issued By:
Fr. Savarimuthu Sankar
Spokesperson Delhi Catholic Archdiocese
frsankar@gmail.com
9968006616/9717906441

India Christians Injured In Pre-Christmas Attacks

NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Persecution of minority Christians in India is escalating ahead of Christmas with attacks reported in several areas including in southern regions and the capital New Delhi.
In one of the latest known incidents Saturday, December 13, evangelical Christians were attacked and beaten by Hindu militants for singing Christmas carols in India's southern city of Hyderabad, seriously injuring a pastor and four others, rights activists told BosNewsLife.
The violence occurred while Pastor Bhim Nayak of Banjara Baptist Church and fifteen church members sang Christmas carols and visited Christian families in the city's Singareny Colony. Local Christians said some thirty "Hindu radicals" attacked the Christians and a vehicle they had hired for the evening festivities.
The Hindu mob was seen surrounding the vehicle, with several shouting that believers were trying to "forcefully convert people to Christianity" by singing Christmas carols.
Angry Hindus soon smashed the vehicle's windows and dragged the Christians out into the street where they were beaten severely, witnesses said.
PASTOR, FAMILY INJURED
Pastor Nayak and four others, including his wife and son, were reportedly severely injured after being hit by sticks and clubs.
The pastor, who was said to be the focal point of the radicals' rage, collapsed, unconscious, covered in blood, Christians said. Nayak was reportedly rushed to a local clinic where he received first aid and was transferred to a Hyderabad hospital where he, his wife and son receive intensive care.
It was no isolated incident, with massive Hindu-led "reconversion campaigns" taking place all across the northern India and reports of forced conversions and violence against Christians, according to advocacy group International Christian Concern (ICC), which supports the pastor.
Violence has also been reported in New Delhi where Christians have demanded justice after a church was torched earlier this month.
Though no one was inside the targeted St. Sebastian’s Church in the capital's Dilshad Garden area, regional Archbishop Anil Couto said the entire interior was “reduced to ashes”.
The December 1 attack prompted Christians to demonstrate near police headquarters.
'ANTI-SOCIAL ELEMENTS'
In published renarks, the president of aid and advocacy group Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), Sajan K George, warned that “the holy season of Advent is always targeted by anti-social elements."
He said, "They want to breed suspicion, discord and disharmony between religious communities”.
Yet in an unprecedented move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologized for a parliamentarian's insulting comments comments towards non-Hindu minorities, including Christians, saying that they were unacceptable.
He said however that Niranjan Jyoti has apologised for her remarks and that “she is a first-time member
and comes from a rural background”.
The opposition reportedly demanded a resolution to condemn her “revolting” remarks. Prime Minister Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP party enjoys a comfortable majority, after winning the May 2014 election.

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Christian event in Ratlam stopped on alleged charges of “conversion”

A Pentecostal convention in Ratlam came to an abrupt end Friday after a group of right-wing activists brought the administration and police to the venue after accusing the organisers of converting tribals by offering money and other allurements.

Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) activists alleged that illiterate tribals from Bajna and Sailana were brought to a venue on Power House Road in Ratlam town with a promise to cure their ailments and promised jobs and money.

Called Changai Sabha’, the meet was organised by the local body and addressed by preachers from Kerala and Bhopal. The HJM said the organisers had arranged for food and accommodation of the tribals and told the potential converts that only Christianity can ensure salvation, not their old religion.

CSP P S Ranawat told The Indian Express that no evidence about the alleged conversions, forced or otherwise, was found in the initial probe by the police. He said the police had spoken to a few tribals but none confirmed the allegation. He said the police could not take statements of the organisers because there was tension in the air.

After the police assured them of action, the Manch said its activists would wait till Saturday for a case to be registered against the organisers or decide the next course of action after the deadline was over.

Ranawat said between 100 and 150 tribals participated in the convention addressed by five preachers. When told about the deadline given by the HJM, the CSP chose not to speak about it.

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Bearing the cross of insecurity

Rising incidents of violence and harassment have the Christian community anxious about its rights

Vikram Verma, a Class XII student of a convent school in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, is worried about a 'whip' that has been issued instructing students to stop addressing the school principal as "father". Instead, they are supposed to call the Christian priest "sir", "pracharya" (Hindi for principal) or "up-pracharya". "I have always addressed the principal as 'father', how can I suddenly start calling him pracharya?" asks Verma (name changed). The instruction came after a written agreement between the Jagdalpur Catholic Diocese and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Following the agreement, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, the over two dozen Catholic schools that the diocese manages in the region will also have to put up photographs of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge.
Barely a week after this news, which was received by the Christian community with concern, St Sebastian's Church in East Delhi's Dilshad Garden was gutted in a fire. A special investigation team is now probing what the church alleges was arson. Already apprehensive, the community has been further alarmed by recent reports that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or RSS, plans to convert at least 4,000 Christian families, on Christmas no less, as part of what it terms as the ghar wapsi (returning home) programme to be held in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath will reportedly participate in the event that will be followed by similar events in Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Mathura, Ferozabad, Etah, Meerut, Mainpuri and Uttarakhand.
"After the attack on the church in Delhi particularly, people feel very alarmed," says P K Samantaroy, moderator of the Church of North India and bishop of the church's Diocese of Amritsar. The Church of North India is the biggest Protestant organisation with churches across India except in the southern states. "If this can happen in Delhi, it can happen anywhere." Incidents of attacks and coercion, the community believes, have been on the increase. Praveen Davar, a member of the National Commission for Minorities, says while he would not like to comment on the politics of it all, "We are equally concerned. A lot of incidents have come to our notice in the last few months." The commission has sought a "factual report" from the Uttar Pradesh government about the conversions that took place in Agra recently. "If we are not convinced with the report, we will send our fact-finding team," says Davar. He adds that more incidents are being reported from western Uttar Pradesh, "but that is also because western Uttar Pradesh borders Delhi and hence, the incidents come to our notice. Cases happening in remote areas of the country often go unreported." Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh have been other vulnerable areas. In September, for example, a church was set ablaze by some unidentified people in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district.
Denying that VHP or any Hindu organisation had a role in this, Surendra Singh, VHP's man in charge of Madhya Bharat, says, "We do not buy the idea of damaging even an unattended property, let alone a religious place. VHP believes in 'rashtra', that is 'country first'." He alleges that certain forces are trying to stonewall a "rashtrawadi" (nationalist) government through such propaganda. "I can firmly say that VHP and Bajrang Dal cannot undertake any task that will tarnish their image."
Intimidation tactics
Christians, meanwhile, say they are also being harassed with false cases. "In my own diocese, cases have been fabricated against church officials," says Samantaroy. Adds Anand Muttungal, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh: "In the last 100 days, as many as 500 cases have been registered against members of the Christian community for one reason or the other, particularly in the tribal belt of Barwani and Sendhwa in western Madhya Pradesh."
Such cases, says Makarand Deuskar, deputy inspector general of police, Jabalpur, are investigated under Section 295 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to hurting religious sentiments, and Section 153 (A), which deals with creating tension between communities. "We always try to allay the fears in the minority communities," he claims.
In Gujarat, there is anxiety that 'intelligence groups' are on the prowl gathering information about the activities of Christian organisations, some of which have also been directly asked to furnish details about their activities. "This is a well thought-out strategy to intimidate us," says Cedric Prakash, Ahmedabad-based Jesuit priest and human rights activist. "It is no coincidence that the incidents (in Uttar Pradesh) are taking place in December, close to Christmas," adds Samson Christian, national executive member and general secretary of the All India Christian Council. "We are being vigilant in Gujarat too."
If the need arises, the community will appeal to the state or the central government or even file a petition in the Supreme Court against actions that violate its right to practise and profess its beliefs. "We have faith that the judiciary will ensure miscreants do not disrupt law and order," says Christian.
A society polarised
In Uttar Pradesh, after the Delhi church was burnt, Christians held a silent protest march under the banner of UP Masihi Association (UPMA). The association has also sought appointments with the governor and the chief minister to seek security, says Rakesh Chattree, UPMA secretary and principal of Christ Church College, Lucknow. "Sporadic incidents of vandalism have also been occurring in the churches of some backward districts of Gonda, Basti and Bahraich," he says, adding that they are being targeted for alleged induced conversions. "We are against forced conversions," he says. As another member of the community wonders, if churches in India have been engaging in forced conversions, how is it that the Christian population has remained a low 2 per cent for so many years? (According to the 2011 Census of India, Christians account for 2.3 per cent of India's population). Chattree says while he is confident that the BJP leadership and RSS believed in peaceful coexistence, the local small-time leaders needed to be reined in.
The 4,000 Christian families identified for conversion in Aligarh belong to the Valmiki samaj, a Dalit sect of Hinduism. "The Valmiki samaj is the feet of the Hindu society. We are incomplete without them," said RSS regional pracharak Rajeshwar Singh in an interview to The Economic Times. And that is where the Hindu bodies intend to bring these poor people - back to the lowest strata of society, fumes P L Punia, chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. "Through these conversions, they will once again be reduced to a life of indignity where they won't even be allowed to enter the temples of the higher castes," he says.
By raising such hate issues, an attempt is being made to divide people, create an identity crisis and get every Hindu to start thinking like the Hindutva brigade, says Roop Rekha Verma, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University who runs Saajhi Duniya that works for communal harmony in Uttar Pradesh.
Back in Bastar, a section of the Christian community feels that the agreement between the Catholic schools and VHP was made under duress. Arun Pannalal, general secretary of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, fears the agreement will set a precedent and VHP will raise the same demands elsewhere. But, says VHP leader Suresh Yadav, "We raised some issues and the Christian community agreed without any reservation." The state authorities have decided not to interfere. "It is between VHP and the diocese. We have no role to play in it," says Brajesh Vajpayee, an education department official.
Meanwhile, there is a sense of insecurity in Odisha too. Conversion is a sticky issue in the state, says the pastor of a church in Bhubaneswar, requesting anonymity. The Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, which has existed for decades, lays down rules and procedures for a person to change his or her faith. "So no one can be converted forcibly or through allurement," reasons the pastor. But this argument is strongly contested. Says Ramakant Rath, state coordinator, Bajrang Dal, "While few have been officially converted under the Act, lakhs have been lured illegally into Christianity, particularly in the tribals areas through the offer of money, education or health services." He says in many cases, they have stopped such "conversion programmes, but in remote areas, where our organisation cannot reach, people sometimes take the law into their own hands, leading to violence, to vent their anger against conversion".
The Christians are looking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send out a strong message that will allay their fears. "Look at how the administrative machinery swung into action when the Prime Minister launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan," says Samantaroy. "The administration is bound to act on the Prime Minister's directive. But so far there has been no strong statement from him."

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RSS reconversion project

The late Dilip Singh Judeo, poster boy of the Bharatiya Janata Party for re-conversion of Christian tribals to Hinduism became the subject of a TV sting in 2003. He was shown taking a bribe, touching the wad of notes offered to his forehead saying, “Paisa khuda to nahin par khuda ki kasam khuda se kam bhi nahin (Money isn’t God. But by God, it’s no less than God).” Mr Judeo had spoken an essential truth for people suffering from acute economic deprivation, money indeed is no less than God.

The Hindutva activists, who so brazenly converted 57 families of poor migrant Muslims of Agra with the promise of Below the Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards and water supply to “return home” (ghar vapsi) to Hinduism are unlikely to be deterred by debates in Parliament.

The Dharam Jagran Samiti, an RSS body, is seeking donations for conversion Rs 5 lakh to convert a Muslim and Rs 1 lakh to convert a Christian to Hinduism. Its letter soliciting cash contributions claims that Christians and Muslims have become a “problem” for the country and says, “Bandhuwar (Friends), lots of money will be required in the ‘ghar vapsi’ because the work of conversion is increasing more workers and more people need to be covered.” In offering allurements for conversion how is it any different from the Christian proselytisers the RSS criticises?

Moreover, foreign funds for conversion are used just as Christian missionaries are said to do. The activities of the RSS in tribal areas have been funded by a US-based body, International Development Relief Fund (IDRF). According to the Campaign to Stop Funding Hate, also based in the US, 82 per cent of all IDRF funding goes to the RSS in India and 70 per cent of the monies are used for “Hinduisation/tribal/ education” work, aimed at spreading Hindutva ideology among tribals.

The main focus of the RSS had been the reconversion of Christians. Its prominent organisations which work among the tribals are: Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Ekal Vidyalaya, Sewa Bharati, Vivekananda Kendra, Bharat Kalyan Parishad and Friends of Tribal Society. Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Ekal Vidyalaya and Sewa Bharati have been implicated in the past in anti-Christian violence in Madhya Pradesh.

It might be recalled that the saffron terror accused Swami Aseemanand, currently inexplicably on bail, was associated with Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad (different from the Ashram), an affiliate of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, He organised forced conversion of Christian tribals in Gujarat besides plotting the Mecca Masjid bombing in Hyderabad. His organisation also received IDRF funds.

The re-conversion project of the RSS is not new. It believes that re-conversion would lead to, “national integration”. It also secures electoral gains to the BJP by increasing its influence in the tribal areas and by communally polarising the voters.

Conversion activities among Muslims have been around as well, especially in Rajasthan, but more low key and less publicised. Hindutva ideologues see Indian Muslims as fifth columnists and therefore the need to bring them back into the Hindutva fold.

The RSS formulation that India must be both “pitra-bhumi” (ancestral land) and “punya-bhumi” (holy land) makes Christians and Muslims special targets for conversion. They can never be truly Indian or “Hindu” for the RSS because the Christians have their Holy Land in Jerusalem and a large number looks to the Vatican for guidance, while the Muslims look towards Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Hence the re-conversion requires them to “confess” that their ancestors were Hindus and enables their return to the Hindu fold.

The new-found aggression of the RSS organisations in re-conversion is their understanding that under the Narendra Modi dispensation, their time for expansion has begun, which they refer to as “Vistaar ka samay” an expansion which is not only political but also social and cultural.

The political expansion of the BJP seems for the moment unstoppable. It has made deep inroads in some of the states where it was virtually non-existent. In West Bengal, the BJP is giving Mamata Banerjee sleepless nights. In Jammu and Kashmir, the party is set to make major electoral gains. It has also found toe-hold in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the BJP, having done exceptionally well in the Lok Sabha elections, is set to expand its electoral base further.

Those who make a distinction between the so-called “moderate” face of the BJP identified with its current undisputed leader Mr Modi and the frothing fringes in the Hindutva family, need to understand that the RSS deploys horses for courses. While elections are won by moderate voices, more extreme elements have also been rewarded with ministries in the government. They include Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, who referred to all non-BJP supporters as “illegitimate”, Giriraj Singh, who asked all opponents of Mr Modi to go to Pakistan and Sanjeev Baliyaan, who stands accused of communal riots in Muzaffarnagar. Only Yogi Adityanath with his allegations of a “love jihad” has not been accommodated as yet.

A flotilla of RSS organisations protects the mother ship the RSS and its Hindutva ideology. They are autonomous yet linked by a command structure of RSS functionaries, sent to keep them to the straight and narrow.

This structure allows some to indulge in re-conversion, some to foment communal violence, some to rewrite history and tinker with the education system and yet others to claim to provide good and inclusive governance.

It is part of the ideological expansion of Hindutva politics that we are witnessing in the banning of German from school curricula and making Sanskrit compulsory in some states and schools, providing a historical “date” for the Mahabharat war and demanding that the Bhagavad Gita be declared a national scripture.

The response to the RSS expansion has been tremendous, with everybody and his uncle trying to project some real or imaginary family connection to the RSS. Spearheading this expansion of Hindutva ideology are men who wear non-Vedic khaki short-pants and broad military style belts, borrowing their militaristic ideology from the Brown Shirts of Mussolini, clearly a product of Kalyug.

The writer is a journalist based in New Delhi

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Will go ahead with its homecoming reconversion program on Christmas Day: Dharam Jagaran Samiti

Notwithstanding the warning by the district administration, the Dharam Jagaran Samiti — a western UP-based Hindutva group, has said it will go ahead with its reconversion programme on December 25.

“This is not conversion programme but a ceremony to welcome those who had left the Hindu fold in the past and are ready to return because of dissatisfaction which they experienced after conversion.

“We are ready to fight a legal battle if the district administration tries to prevent our ceremony,” Organisation Secretary of the Samiti, Vidyaram Pandey said here.

The Aligarh district administration has denied receiving any application from Samiti for permission to organise the programme.

Meanwhile, BJP has now adopted a cautious approach on this impending face off between the district authorities and the other saffron organisations.

“We are not organising this ceremony but if the organisers including the Bajrang Dal seek our help on this score, we will certainly do whatever we can to help them,” BJP’s district president Devraj Singh told reporters.

On the other hand, organisations of minority community and leaders have voiced their concern over the possibility of communal strife as a fall out of the proposed Christmas Day reconversion ceremony.

The AMU Students’ Union, in a letter today to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, pointed out that forced conversions by some Hindu organisations in Uttar Pradesh under the garb of “homecoming ceremony” were a dangerous signal for the entire country.

“This matter has nothing to do with Hinduism, as Hinduism never preaches religious exploitation. This is entirely the work of some extremist Hindu organisations who are indulging in such activities not because of an interest in their religion but for purely polarising society for political gains,” the letter said.

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BJP Lawmaker From Chhattisgarh Attends 'Conversion' Ceremony

Bastar, Chhattisgarh: Yogi Adityanath is not the only BJP parliamentarian to take a keen interest in conversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism. In October, BJP Lok Sabha MP Dinesh Kashyap presided over a ceremony that saw 33 Christian families being converted.

A cellphone video NDTV has accessed, shows Mr Kashyap not only attending the event - organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad - in Madhota village of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, but also performing rituals. And he is unapologetic about it.

"Yes I attended and it was not a conversion ceremony but a reconversion ceremony. Those people were lured by Christians to convert and we welcomed them back. The ceremony that I attended was not like what happened in Agra. Here people voluntarily reconverted," said Mr Kashyap.

"In face of the vociferous Opposition attack in Parliament, the BJP has distanced itself from the conversions in Agra earlier this week. We are also committed to secularism. Law and order is a state subject and the state should act," BJP parliamentarian Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said. But Yogi Adityanath has warned about a bigger programme in Aligarh to be held on December 25.

Mr Kashyap said religious conversions are still big problem in Bastar, his constituency, where tribals are either lured or forcefully converted to other religions. To check forceful conversions in state an anti-conversion law bill was passed. The Centre is considering a stricter law to stop forceful conversion and the Chhattisgarh government has welcomed it.

"If there are more provisions added to the anti-conversion bill it is good. I feel all parties in Lok Sabha will accept this. The stricter the law the better," chief minister Raman Singh had said on Saturday.

The central government, earlier this week, tried to turn the tables on the Opposition, reiterating a long-held Sangh Parivar view of a nation-wide law to stop conversions. The BJP now has put the ball in the court of other parties to decide the future path of the anti-conversion bill.

In Raipur, BJP president Amit Shah yesterday said, "Our parliamentary affairs minister put up the issue in Parliament and have appealed to all parties to come forward and discuss how to take the anti-conversion bill forward. Now it is for political parties to decide whether they want to do something about forceful conversions or not."

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Shiv Sena gets involved in Church property dispute, claims conversion

The ongoing land dispute between the Kalvari church management and one Rajan T Singh took another turn on Thursday as the Shiv Sena along with other Hindu organisations protested in front of division number 2 police station.

The protesters alleged religious conversions and said that Christians were forcing them to change their religion. To maintain law and order, heavy police security was deployed around the church and police station.

The allegation came two days after Rajan T Singh, a police constable, along with Shiv Sena activists tried to attack the church and pastor Darbara Singh alleged that the church management had grabbed his piece of land.

An FIR was registered against 15-18 members of the Shiv Sena on the complaint of Daniel, the present caretaker of the land in question.

On Thursday, pastor Darbara Singh met Police Commissioner Pramod Ban and demanded a fair inquiry into the case. The inquiry was marked to ACP (central) and division number 2 SHO Gurpreet Singh said that no arrests had been made in the case so far.

Meanwhile, a woman called Rani Pal, who protested along with the Shiv Sena, got an FIR registered against priest Afzal Chaudhary and Sri Nath, alleging that they forced her to change her religion from Hindu to Christianity.

“The woman alleged that on December 9, she was forced to undergo religion conversion and both the accused tried to lure her with money, a new home and free treatment at Christian Medical College and Hospital,” said SHO Gurpreet Singh.

Police registered the FIR against Chaudhary and Sri Nath under Section 295 of the IPC. The SHO said that they were yet to make any arrest in the case.

Asgar Masih, legal advisor of the church, said, “Afzal Chaudhary had some old dispute with the church management but later he entered a compromise. Now Shiv Sena is deliberately getting him into the picture to defame the church management.”

Pastor Darbara Singh said that “police commissioner has assured him of a free and fair inquiry into the case”.

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