Villagers turn hostile at Christian relief workers’ alleged conversion bid

Samanthapettai – Villagers of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu turned hostile and assaulted a group of unidentified Christian missionaries after the latter allegedly refused them aid for not agreeing to follow their religion.

Samanthapettai, near the temple town of Madurai, faced near devastation on the December 26 when massive tidal waves wiped it clean of homes and lives.

Most of the 200 people here are homeless or displaced, battling to rebuild lives and locating lost family members besides facing risks of epidemic, disease and trauma.

According to India News, jubilant at seeing the relief trucks loaded with food, clothes and the much–needed medicines the villagers, many of who have not had a square meal in days, were shocked when the nuns asked them to convert before distributing biscuits and water.

Heated arguments broke out as the locals forcibly tried to stop the relief trucks from leaving. The missionaries, who rushed into their cars on seeing television reporters and the cameras refusing to comment on the incident and managed to leave the village.

Disappointed and shocked into disbelief the hapless villagers still await aid.

"Many NGOs (volunteer groups) are extending help to us but there in our village the NGO, which was till now helping us is now asking us to follow the Christian religion. We are staunch followers of Hindu religion and refused their request. And after that these people with their aid materials are leaving the village without distributing that to us," Rajni Kumar, a villager said.

Incidentally, Gagansingh Bedi, collector of Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore’s district, during a special meeting convened for NGOs and Church people on January 24, had cautioned Church groups to avoid actions in tsunami–hit areas that could be misinterpreted as attempts at religious conversion.

Bedi shared with the Church workers present, reports of certain Christian groups that have tried to win converts among tsunami survivors in other parts of the state. Such incidents are isolated, but they would give "a negative impact" and hinder rehabilitation efforts, he said.

Urging the Church groups to avoid actions that would raise doubts about their motives, the collector advised them not to raise permanent structures bearing religious symbols in villages they have adopted for rehabilitation and not to organize public religious functions.

According to news reports, Cardinal Toppo has denied allegations that ulterior motives are part of the Church's rehabilitation work among tsunami victims.