tightening of laws aimed at preventing “forced conversions” to other religions than Hinduism.
In one of the latest incidents Friday, September 22, in the state of Madya Pradesh two evangelists were attacked by militants in the area of Betul, said the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), an advocacy group representing several churches and organizations.
It said the evangelists, who were identified only as Lakhan and Pawar were attacked by Hindu militants who accused them of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity. Pawar was allegedly admitted to hospital, but the nature of his injuries were not immediately clear.
At the same time on Friday, September 22, Christians in Amritsar, in India’s Punjab state, reportedly staged a demonstration to protest last week’s attack on a 200-year-old church in their city. Church authorities suspect that the family of Kartar Rai, a Hindu who formerly worked as caretaker of St. Paul’s Church, carried out the September 13 attack and looting.
ANTI CONVERSION
It came as the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party plans to introduce a draft anti-conversion bill in the next session of the Punjab state assembly, which would require Christian ministers to get permission from district authorities before a conversion could take place, news reports said.
A similar enactment of the Freedom of Religion Act in the state of Gujarat also triggered violence against Christians, the GCIC said. It said Pastor Arul Daniel, 38, and co-worker Dasrath Bai, 30, of Indian Missionary Society along with 6 members of their church congregation were attacked last week while having a prayer meeting in Diviya village.
“[Between] 15 [and] 20 militant Hindus armed with Lathis severely attacked Pastor Daniel, Dasrath and other members, shouting slogans and abuses, and offensive comments about Christians and Christianity,” said GCIC President Sajan George.
CLEARING HURDLES
It came as the Gujarat state assembly House, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Tuesday, September 19, passed a bill to modify the state controversial anti-conversion law of 2003, to clear various legal hurdles that have prevented the implementation of the legislation.
Under the amended law, people converting from one “sect” to another within the same religion would not require this permission. Christians in Gujarat reportedly fear that the amended law may add to harassment against them. A similar law enacted in Madhya Pradesh has been linked to an increase in the harassment and intimidation of Christians.
Some believers took to the streets to protest the violence in India, a mainly Hindu nation of nearly 1.1 billion people. On Friday, September 22, Christians in Amritsar, in India’s Punjab state, will reportedly staged a rally to protest last week’s attack on a 200-year-old church in their city.
FAMILY INVOLVED?
Church authorities suspect that the family of Kartar Rai, a Hindu who formerly worked as caretaker of St. Paul’s Church, carried out the September 13 attack and looting, said Christian news agency Compass Direct.
It came as the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party reportedly also plans to introduce a draft anti-conversion bill in the next session of the Punjab state assembly, which would require Christian ministers to get permission from district authorities before a conversion could take place.
Mission groups have linked the violence against Christians and anti-conversion to fears among Hindu militants about the spread of Christianity, especially among Dalits, seen as the ‘lowest caste’ within the country’s ancient system of Hinduism. (With BosNewsLife Research and reports from India).
