Two Hindu nationalist organizations are trying to stop two large public Christian conventions scheduled to take place in different provinces of the Central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have submitted appeals to the police and district administrative officials, warning that unless the conventions are canceled, authorities will be responsible for any subsequent communal disturbances.
While the VHP is demanding the cancelation of a large November convention organized by Paul Dinakaran, a well-known Pentecostal preacher from South India in the southern Bastar district, the Bajrang Dal is seeking to stop Pastor Bajinder from New Delhi, famous for his healing crusades, from leading a gathering later this month in Bhilai, in the northern part of Chhattisgarh.
In its memorandum to authorities in Bastar, the VHP described Dinakaran as a criminal and called his program damaging to the district’s cultural and religious fabric.