by Nirmala Carvalho

The people involved had chosen Christianity two years ago. The ceremony of "reconversion" was organized by two extremist groups, which in the Indian state promotes the so-called "homecoming programs “. Christian leader: "Groups prey on simplicity of the people and indulge in a propaganda of hatred against Christianity."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - At least 23 people in Uttar Pradesh have been reconverted to Hinduism, two years after choosing to embrace Christianity. The reconversion ceremony which took place yesterday, was held in Trilochan Mahadev temple as part of a so-called "homecoming program" organized by the Hindu radical associations Sant Ravidas Dharma Raksha Samiti and Sri Gram Devta Pujan Samiti.

The District Magistrate, Subhash LY, has dismissed this as "a matter of faith." But for Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), these programs are "mischievous and misleading" going against "the principles of the Indian Constitution."

"For some time now - the Christian leader tells AsiaNews - Sant Ravidas Dharma Raksha Samiti have been indulging in these so called home coming projects in Uttar Pradesh.  In August 2012, in Varanasi  they  got 315 people to renounce their Christian faith for Hinduism.  In 2011, the same group, reconverted about 350 people in Jhamaria village. This group preys on the simplicity of the people and indulge in hate propaganda against Christianity".

According to Sajan George the actions perpetrated by this group are "dangerous and evil. The Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP, Hindu ultranationalist party - ed] is desperate to form a government in Uttar Pradesh and is using religion as a political tool, to incite people against faith and lure them towards nationalism".

 

 

• india
• hindu
• radicals
• conversion
• christianity
• persecution
• uttar
• pradesh