program" to stop the spread of Christianity and force new Christians to return to Hinduism, a well informed influential advocacy group told BosNewsLife Wednesday, July 13.
"I came to know through sources in the government that the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi, would release four billion Indian Rupees (about 92 million US Dollars) in the name of development in August. [It will be] for a month-long program in Dangs district in southern Gujarat," said Samson Christian, the National Executive Member and Joint Secretary of the All India Christian Council (AICC).
Dangs district, a large area of 1764 square kilometers, has a population of 187,000, out of which only 15,000 are Christians, according to estimates. The religious atmosphere in the district has been tense since anti-Christian violence erupted there in 1998 during the Christmas week.
FUNDING PROGRAM
There was no immediate reaction from the government on its reported plans to finance an anti conversion program in the area, but the AICC is known to have close contacts with senior officials. Previous information leaked or observed by the AICC has proven to be correct.
Although the program was to be officially launched in 2006, "Hindu fundamentalists" have already "been working for the program for the last two months in the name of the state government," AICC official Christian added.
A national daily, the Indian Express, reported on July 7 that Hindu fundamentalist organizations linked to the hard-line Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party were planning to organize a massive religious rally at the Pampa Sarovar Lake at Jasrol village in Dangs district in February, next year.
"SPREADING AWARENESS"
The aim of the rally is "to spread awareness against conversion of tribes by Christian missionaries and bring them back to Hindu fold," said the daily. The rally was expected to draw over 200,000 people from across the country.
As part of the preparations, RSS chief K. Sudarshan already held a closed-door meeting in neighboring Surat district with trustees of Sabridham Trust, a trust formed to keep an eye on conversions, and Hindu preachers from the region added the daily.
"We are not going to tolerate any more conversions. Innocent Tribals are forced into conversion," another unidentified senior RSS leader was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. The official made clear that at an upcoming Kumbh-like mela, or Religious Rally, Christians would take a dip in the Pampa Sarovar to re-convert to Hinduism.
EVANGELICALS DENY ALLEGATIONS
Evangelical missionaries in India have denied allegations they are forcing people to convert. They say Christianity deals with a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who is Lord" and that nobody can be forced but is free to accept Him in his or her life.
Christian groups claim however that Hindu militant groups have been upset by what they claim is the rapid growth of Christianity in India in recent years, especially among areas of Tribals , the native people of India, who are often viewed as ‘out-castes’ in the country’s Hindu dominated caste society.
"The disease of conversion has spread in the country. The Hindu community has to be awakened. Muslim terrorists of Jihad are attacking Hindus and Christians are converting…"Sudarshan was quoted as saying by a local daily, Gujarat Samachar.
"CHRISTIAN POPES"
Sudarshan said "Christian Popes had done only one thing in the world, and that was conversion. Now, the eyes of Christians are fixed on Asia, including India. For that they have collected more than 20 billion dollars from America to be spent in India alone." It was not clear from where the figures came.
The AICC and other advocacy groups fear planned ‘anti-conversion’ activities, including a Hindu rally, will encourage a repeat of the 1998 Christmas violence against Christians in Gujarat’s Dangs district.
The violence started on December 25 during a rally organized by Hindu fundamentalist organization, Hindu Jagran Manch or ‘Forum for the revival of Hindus’. That event was attended by about 4,000 people and sparked ten days of strife. The violence included attacks on Christian places of worship, schools run by Christian missionaries, shops owned by Christians, and people who had a Christian identity, BosNewsLife established.
