Hindu Militants “reconverted” over 340 Christians in Orissa

Orissa – Hindu leaders attending Sapta Mahajagnya and Bisala Hindu Samabesa (April 8–10) organized by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Orissa “reconverted” over 340 tribal Christians to Hinduism.

The Christians, mostly tribals and ‘Dalits’, the lowest caste in India’s ancient system of Hinduism, were “reconverted” on April 9, as key Hindu dignitaries encouraged village Christians to blow conch shells and recite Hindu scriptures as a symbolic “return” to Hinduism and police watched on a distance without intervening.

The RSS had set a target of reconverting over 10,000 people by April 10 evening. Observers said apparently, intense media scrutiny lowered conversions numbers.

Almost 500,000 Hindus gathered at Chakapad village in Kandhamal district, around 265 kilometers (160 miles) from the state capital Bhubaneswar, for the three–day event. RSS president K.S. Sudarshan and Ashok Singhal international president of the Vishwa Hindu Council (VHP or World Hindu Council) were both present.

The leader of the nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or ‘World Hindu Council’ suggested that Christian missionaries were to blame for disturbing peace.

“Dubious conversions have been disturbing peace in the country and the menace should be arrested soon,” the VHP official, Ashok Singhal reportedly said at the ceremony.

The state government assisted by providing infrastructure not usually available to the remote village. BSNL, a national telecommunications company, provided temporary mobile service to the village during the event.

Singhal described ceremony as a “homecoming” for the tribals. The Telegraph quoted him saying, “You don’t call it conversion when a person strays for a while and finally decides to return home.”

The reconversion rally came as governments in an increasing number of states are adopting anti–conversion laws or under pressure to introduce this kind of legislation. Hindu groups have expressed their frustration of the spread of Christianity among Dalits and other impoverished groups in India.

Before the three day–event in Orissa began, Rajnath Singh, chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s largest political Hindu party, reportedly accused “Christian missionaries convert people in the name of their social service.” He said “there can be no crueler joke than using money or service to deceive the poor.”

In published remarks the BJP warned that “conversions comprise the greatest danger” to India’s society. “We cannot allow the demographic profile of the country to be changed. We will not let Hindus become a minority, as somebody has said they would be by 2060.”

He added that “as long as the BJP is on the political scene, it will fight such attempts tooth and nail”.

Under the controversial Orissa Freedom of Religions Act, enforced in 1999, conversions require prior permission from local police and district magistrates. The Indian Penal Code also forbids hurting the sentiments of another religious group.

The All India Christian Council and other advocacy groups and church leaders have expressed concern over the event and what they see as the bias of authorities towards Christians.