“Illegal conversion” of tribals in Vanvasi heartland of Chhattisgarh has been a core issue for long, Organiser representative Pankaj Singh had a brief interaction with BJP State secretary and pioneer of Ghar Wapsi campaign Prabal Pratap Singh Judev. Excerpts:
The menace of illegal conversion has been haunting the masses of Chhattisgarh since always, how
grave is the threat ?
It’s a massive threat, you see first of all illegal conversion is unconstitutional, secondly those who opt to convert remain practising Hindu on paper, additionally a significant number are of those who live with a Hindu identity and are even following Sanatan rituals and customs under “Crypto Christianity”, they work like sleeper cells for the missionaries who lay ground for further conversions that ultimately leads to change of demography in the long run.
From when did the real issue got started and how it has affected the tribal (Vanvasi community).
It all got started in the Mughal era and then the Europeans push it further, especially the Britishers who invited the missionaries and subsequently started converting the tribals by brainwashing them. They targeted the Vanvasi community as they were the soft targets.
You see historically, Vanvasis have always stood up to safeguard the traditions and culture of our society alike soldiers, everyone knows the legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Alluri Sitaramraju, you tell me which community was backing Maharana Pratap when he was grappling with Akbar, were not they Vanvasis Bheel. They (Vanvasis) are the very foundation of our country thats why they (Europeans) chose to target them and as the community is very solid by nature they found that the best way to break into them by alienating them from their age old culture and traditions, that is why conversion. Undoubtedly it’s a huge conspiracy hatched in the foreign lands to break our beloved homeland Bharat.
Is illegal conversion only limited to Vanvasis or are there other groups affected in the State?
No, Of late the missionaries are also targeting people from the other community such as Sahu, Satnamis and even people from the Sikh community. They are channelising huge funds for this.
“Apart from vanvasis, the missionaries are also targeting people from the other community such as Sahu, Satnamis and even people from the Sikh community. There are pastors with a Sahu surname, commonly used by the Teli community and they are inciting and leading people into conversion“
There are pastors with a Sahu surname, commonly used by the Teli community and they are inciting and leading people into conversion, I find it an alarming trend as when someone opts to embrace any other religion by leaving its roots, first he changes its heart and then he was subsequently brainwashed.
Your father launched a crusade against illegal conversion through Ghar Wapsi campaign, how impactful it was?
The impact was phenomenal, he himself coined the term “Ghar Wapsi” and started welcoming the returnees by washing their feet’s, he was a learned man who had a conviction that if a king would wash the feet of common people who are willing to return to the religion of their ancestors, it will definitely have a positive impact on others and that is how it ultimately unfolded.
Secondly, the timing of the campaign was also very crucial, my father had sensed that the missionaries and the Maoists had set their eyes on the Jashpur belt so he decided to stood up against them aggressively. Had it not been my father and the team of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, the whole Jashpur region would have been in grip of mission backed conversion and Maoist Insurgency alike Bastar, so it was a turning point.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai has recently remarked that the missionaries are a dominant force in education and health sector, how will you break that monopoly?
Yes, we are opening up ‘Eklavya Schools’, we are focused on healthcare and education which have been the main weapons of those who bargains on the name of service “(Wo jo Sewa ke naam pe Sauda karte hain)” and offer money, healthcare services for conversion.
If you want to serve the people do it for humanity that is absolutely fine but why such groups lure them (Vanvasis) into conversion, why they incite them to change their religion, that is wrong.
What are your views on conversion-born issues such as scuffles over crematorium and other
traditional practices?
Look such clashes were bound to come, the main issue behind that are the acts of Conversion Mafia who are leaving no stone unturned in breaking the society through the means of conversion. They have planted the seed of separation between the families and if they are not contained immediately it will lead to more confrontation between the community.
Is illegal conversion in the State limited to Christianity only?
No, apart from missionaries there are other elements who have been targeting the Hindu community, there are instances of Land Jihad where the females of the Vanvasi community have been targeted and brainwashed and further coerce into conversion with an aim to occupy their land. Secondly, there are cases related to cow and ganja smuggling, where ganja has been supplied to the Sanatani youths as a tool to further lead them into conversion, It’s a huge conspiracy that need to be tackled.
Talking about your own election result, you lost your seat from the Kota constituency what went wrong there?
The whole administration along with the conversion mafia and radical elements had gathered against me, even the four time MLA from the constituency was hand in gloves with the Congress party’s candidate. I have got more than 22000 votes than any other BJP candidate has ever secured from the Kota constituency, I bow to the people of Kota who blessed me with such love and affection. “My victory was stolen”.
Getting back to Vanvasi community, do you see the decision to elect Vishnu Deo Sai was aimed at wooing the community in the long run?
Firstly, he deserves the CM’s post, my father had predicted and showed his willingness to see him as a CM long ago, what can be better if a person who plough fields, who works in the forests becomes a CM, he knows about the shortfalls, he is well aware of the struggles of the Vanvasi community.
So I don’t think it’s for the vote bank policy, he was a deserving candidate and our party believes in representing every section of the society, he is a perfect person for the perfect job.
You have been following the footsteps of your father and have facilitated Ghar Wapsi of thousands, what is your end goal?
Our campaign will continue till I facilitate the return of our last brother who is willing to return to the family of his ancestors i.e. in the Sanatan Dharma. I don’t believe in forcing people though, I believe that the strengthening of Sanatan will ensure the strengthening of other minorities as well, especially in the Vanvasi dominated regions. hen you will delve into the depths of Sanatan you will find out that it is beyond caste and sects, It’s a symbol of nationality, it’s a symbol of Bhartiyata, so yes I will try helping the very last person who is willing to re-align with the heritage and glory of religion of its ancestors.
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