False media reports of over 300 Hindus embracing Christianity at a conversion ceremony held at Baksha area of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, have sparked tension in the region.
According to reports carried by both Christian as well as secular media, around 350 Hindus coming from all social castes had purportedly converted to Christianity because this faith "brought values of human equality and love missing in Hinduism."
Some reports said that the converted Hindus purportedly belonged to Agraura, Sonwar, Saduddinpur, Dhaniamau, Uttarpatti and Rari villages of Baksha and one Fr. Rajendra Chauhan read out the Gospel to the Hindus who were also handed out lockets of Jesus Christ.
Reports were conflicting on the date of the conversion ceremony allegedly held in the village of Belhara – some said October 3 while others said October 4.
However, one thing the false reports managed to do was provoke the wrath of Hindu fundamentalist outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who has denounced the event and have sworn to conduct a 'reconversion' ceremony.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and Compass were few of those who reported subsequently that the reports on conversion were false and had caused great hardship to the local Christians who were targeted by Hindu fundamentalists.
"The reports have resulted in Christians facing severe hardship in this area. The police too seem to be working hand in glove with fundamentalist groups and have been regularly detaining local Christians at the police stations, pressurizing them to return to Hinduism," Rev. Richard Howell, general secretary, EFI, said.
"The reports started after a meeting of about 300 people held at the home of Sanjay Singh, a convert to Christianity. The prayer meeting was attended by both Christians and non–Christians on a voluntary basis. Singh's neighbor reported the meeting to the police and the incidence gained momentum from there onward," Rev. Howell explained.
According to EFI, the Hindu fundamentalist groups like the VHP and the local press which are colluding with the Hindu outfits are making matters worse for Christians.
Anti–Christian violence escalated in the region after local editions of national Hindi dailies Hindustan, Amar Ujala and Dainik Jagran published reports on the supposed forced conversion of 350 Hindu villagers to Christianity in Belahta village, a local Christian said.
Reporters of these newspapers had on October 3 come to the weekly prayer meeting of the Belahta village branch of the Abundant Life Church. More than 1,000 people, mostly believers from Belahta and nearby villages, were praying and worshipping in a tent pitched outside the house of the convert, Sanjay Singh.
"On October 4, when a few Christian families of the village were sitting in the tent, which had not been removed yet, local villagers along with VHP activists and police came and vandalized the structure," a church leader said.
Nation
False reports of mass conversion spark tension in Uttar Pradesh
By: Jacob Chaterjee
Friday, 17 November 2006, 7:31 (IST)
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