In a shocking incident reported from Bemetra district of Chhattisgarh, a house built under the Prime Minister housing scheme (PM Aawas Yojna) has been reportedly turned into an “impermanent Church” by members of few tribal (Janjati) families who have been secretly worshiping there in accordance with the Christian faith.
According to the information received, as many as 25 members of five families of ward no 13 of Thaan Khamaria area under the Bemetra town police station limits have secretly converted to Christian sect sometimes ago, the converts have also established an impermanent Church where they reported to gather for holding prayers.
Those who have converted are associated with scrap picking and traditional folk dance, Gammat to earn their livelihoods, as per the locals although their occupation remains the same they have started boycotting the traditional Hindu festivals for some time.
Speaking with the Organiser representative, a member of the Hindu outfit who resides near the town informed that at first one woman from the families who have now converted to Christianity got in touch with a Christian man, later on her sick daughter coincidently got some relief after visiting a Church, that prompt them believing that converting to Christianity will benefit them.
As per the reports, the converts after changing their religion started visiting Churches at Raipur and other cities on regular intervals and ultimately established an impermanent Church in a premises near their home to gather and worship Jesus Christ. However, it’s been alleged that the converted families have not informed the authorities about their conversion and they reportedly remained practicing Hindus on paper.
Now after the incident came to light, Hindu outfits have demanded the closure of the said impermanent Church alongside strict action against those who influenced the tribal families for conversion. According to the details, a complaint demanding action into the matter has also been submitted before the police by the members of the Hindu outfit who have warned the administration to hit the streets in case of inaction.
Meanwhile, a police team has also visited the spot and enquired about the matter to those who have converted to Christianity. Confirming about the incident SDO, Thaan Khamaria, Mordhwaj Sahu informed that an inspection of the spot has been done by the police where a house with a cross sign has been traced, we have informed the development to the senior officials and will act as per their instructions.
It is noteworthy, that the incident has come to the fore at a time when the political galleries of the State have already been buzzing with the ongoing tug of war between the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress over the issue of conversion. Recently, a viral video of the Congress leader from Bilaigarh had also stirred a controversy after the Congress MLA Kavita Pran Lahre was seen touching the feet of a controversial pastor Bajinder Singh.
In the viral video, the Congress lawmaker from Bilaigarh was also noticed confessing that it was due to the blessings of the said pastor that he became an MLA. The video triggered sharp reactions from the BJP leaders who termed it as an attempt to promote conversion.
It is worth mentioning that the issue of conversion and de-listing (an exercise to identify those who have converted to other religion but still availing benefits reserved exclusively for the tribal community) was at the forefront of the State assembly election where the BJP while accusing the then Congress government for going soft on illegal conversion had promised to enact a stringent law to deal with the issue if it secures a majority.
It is pertinent to mention here that the tribal dominated State of Chhattisgarh has long been a victim of rampant illegal conversion promoted by certain groups and individuals. Notably, conversion through the means of allurement is a punishable offence under the existing Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act 2003.
Though despite of an already existing anti-conversion law, cases pertaining to conversion through inducement and lure are keep coming to the fore on a regular interval in the State indicating the need of a stringent law to deal with the issue.
Significantly, while highlighting that the existing anti-conversion law is toothless senior BJP leader and minister of the Vishnu Deo Sai led State government, Brijmohan Agarwal has recently announced that the incumbent State government may introduce a new anti-conversion law with strict provisions or amend the existing law to resolve the issue of conversion once and for all.
