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By Sanjaya Jena
Amidst slogans of Jai Shri Ram, a total 692 persons belonging to 146 Christian families of 14 villages under Baragada, Bolangir and Sonepur districts of Orissa returned to their original roots at a function organised by the VHP in Bargarh district on May 1. The families went through various rituals at a yajna performed by pundits. They were given panchamruta, nirmalya and sprinkled with sacred gangajal in the presence of dharmacharayas. Shri Dharma Narayan Sharma, central secretary of VHP, Shri Rohini Parmanik, joint secretary of VHP and Shri Gouri Prasad Rath, state general secretary of VHP along with other local leaders, attended the six-hour-long ceremony. Stating that the people were being converted through inducements in cash and kind, Shri Rath reiterated VHP'sdemand for a complete ban on conversions. Describing the event as ?home coming of natives?, he said the VHP would go ahead with similar rituals across Orissa to stem the clandestine conversions carried out by Christian missionaries. He said that all official formalities required for the purpose had been completed. As per the provisions of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA), anyone with intention to change his/her religion is legally bound to inform the local authorities through affidavit(s). Swami Jivan Chaitanya Maharaj, Kuntura Ashram, Sadhu Pabitra Baba, Patharla Ashram, Makur Deep, Makar Dhwaj Mohanta, Lambodhar Mishra, district president, Baragada and Halapani Majhi were also present on the occasion.
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