Christians in India Fear Backlash at Massive ‘Reconversion’ Event

Tribal locals oppose Hindu nationalist rally in Madhya Pradesh; 2 million pilgrims expected.

NEW DELHI, February 9 (Compass Direct News) – Responding to a petition by the state Catholic Bishops Conference, the High Court of Madhya Pradesh yesterday directed the state government to ensure the safety of Christians in during a massive Hindu nationalist rally scheduled tomorrow through Saturday (Feb. 10-12) in Mandla. Organizers of the Maa Narmada Samajik Kumbh (Mother Narmada SocialKumbh, with “kumbh” literally meaning, “pot”) on the banks of the Narmada River hope to draw 2 million pilgrims to the event. Christian leaders said that the Kumbh – which reportedly received 1.4 billion rupees (US$30.7 million) in infrastructure funding from the state government – is the latest in a series of anti-Christian propaganda events that Hindu nationalist organizations have held in recent years. “We are worried about our safety and security, as our attempt to get adequate protection from the state government received a very cool response,” said Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur. A similar event in Dangs district, Gujarat state in 2006 was filled with hate speech against Christians and attempted mass “reconversions,” and area media in Mandla district have already begun carrying false stories of “forced conversion” and other malicious accusations against Christians. A local tribal party known as the Gond Mahasabha (Great Assembly of the Gonds) has vehemently opposed the Kumbh. The Gonds have stated that they are not Hindus and are against the proposed “reconversion” drive by the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS umbrella group of hard-line Hindu extremist groups asserts that all people born in India are Hindus, and that therefore anyone who believes otherwise must be “reconverted” back to Hinduism. The Gonds have delivered an ultimatum to the RSS threatening violence should even one case of “reconversion” occur at the Kumbh. They have called for a protest tomorrow (Feb. 10), and clashes are expected.