A controversy erupted at the Hyatt Centric hotel in Janakpuri, West Delhi, on September 20 after members of Hindu organisations disrupted a Christian prayer gathering and alleged that religious conversion was taking place inside the hotel.
The allegations triggered a protest outside the hotel, with protesters blocking the Najafgarh Road and demanding action.
According to the police, members of the local Christian community had gathered for their regular Sunday prayer.
What triggered the controversy?
According to reports and videos circulated on social media, members of Hindu organisations entered the venue while the prayer meeting was underway and accused the organisers of conducting mass conversions.
The protesters alleged that a large number of people, including Hindus and children, were present at the gathering. Some reports claimed that people were being asked to fill out forms related to the programme and the facilities being offered.
The prayer meeting was organised by the Global Royal Priesthood Church, which holds Sunday prayer meetings at the hotel.
Allegations of assault during the disruption
The controversy also involved allegations of a physical confrontation.
Members of the protesting group alleged that they were assaulted when they attempted to record what was happening inside the venue. Videos circulating online also contain allegations that people opposing the gathering were manhandled.
Following the confrontation, protesters gathered outside the hotel and began raising slogans and demanding action.
Najafgarh road blocked during protest
As the controversy escalated, protesters moved outside the hotel and sat on the Najafgarh Road, resulting in disruption to traffic.
Police personnel reached the spot and attempted to control the situation.
The protest was eventually linked to wider demands for an investigation into the prayer meeting and allegations of religious conversion.
The West Delhi DCP said that the gathering was a regular Sunday prayer meeting and that police questioning did not reveal any case of religious conversion. The police also rejected the claim that around 500 people had been converted.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo seeks examination of claims
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo also commented on the controversy and called for the relevant facts to be examined.
Kanoongo referred to constitutional protections concerning freedom of religion and said that every citizen has the right to follow and practise a religion of their choice.
Certainly, Babasaheb Ambedkar had envisaged that persons belonging to the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths would be eligible for the constitutional safeguards and reservation benefits provided to Scheduled Castes, and that these benefits should not be unlawfully accessed by… https://t.co/ynZveaRmFw
— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) September 20, 2026
At the same time, he said that if there were allegations concerning the unauthorised use of constitutionally protected reservation benefits, such claims could be examined by the appropriate authorities.
He indicated that information regarding the people involved could be sought from Delhi Police so that the allegations and concerns could be examined.
VHP seeks FIR and investigation
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also demanded a detailed investigation into the incident.
VHP Indraprastha Province Minister Sunil Suri reportedly wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner, with a copy to the Lieutenant Governor, seeking action over the allegations.
दो दिन पूर्व पश्चिमी दिल्ली के जनकपुरी के हयात सेंट्रिक होटल में हुई अवैध फाइव स्टार चंगाई सभा, उसकी आड़ में हुए धर्मांतरण की गंभीर घटना तथा मिशनरियों द्वारा हिंदुओं के साथ की गई हाथापाई और जानलेवा हमले की घटना पर स्थानीय पुलिस द्वारा बरती गई लापरवाही और मिशनरियों के साथ पक्षपात… pic.twitter.com/mzjavxYR7w
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) September 22, 2026
The organisation has demanded:
- Registration of an FIR on the complaint reportedly entered as Diary No. 94-A at Janakpuri police station.
- Examination of the hotel’s booking records, visitor registers and financial transactions.
- Identification and investigation of the alleged organisers and those accused of assault.
- Verification of whether similar prayer or healing meetings are being held regularly and whether the required permissions are in place.
- Investigation into allegations of a wider conversion network operating through such meetings.
These are demands made by the VHP and should not be treated as established findings unless confirmed by the investigating authorities.
