Faith
Under Fire.....
INDIA: Pentecostal pastors and 11 converted Hindus
requesting baptism arrested
Five activists of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the
police tried to convince the faithful to file a false complaint
against the pastor, on charges of forced conversions. The 11
rejected. GCIC: " Madhya Pradesh is a rogue state with the
Christian community."
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
By Asia News Wires
Mumbai (AsiaNewsWires) - Insulted, beaten and charged with false
accusations of forced conversions of five Hindu activists by the
RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). This is what happened yesterday
in Madhya Pradesh to four Pentecostal pastors, and the wife of one
of the11 faithful. After a night in jail, they were released on
bail today. It is the latest episode of aggression by Hindu
nationalists against Pentecostal pastors. But Sajan K George,
president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) points
out: "The situation is alarming for all Christians, Madhya Pradesh
is a rogue state that does not guarantee any rights of the
Constitution in this community."
Pastors Ramesh, Balu and Ashok were driving to a prayer meeting
attended by 20 other people. Of these, 11 were to have received
the baptism ritual according to Pentecostal ritual. Suddenly, the
RSS activists armed with sticks broke into the house, along with
three local police officers. The pastors tried to explain what was
happening, but the activists began to attack them accusing them of
practicing forced conversions. After arresting the men and
Sumantra, the wife of the rev. Ramesh, the police questioned the
11 baptized. Along with the Hindu group, the police tried to
coerce the faithful to file false charges against Pastor Ramesh on
charges of forced conversions. The group refused, saying they
wanted to be baptized as believers in Christ.
"The anti-conversion law of 1968 - says Sajan George - serves as a
pretext to intimidate Christians. A similar case occurred last
August 31 in Khargone district, where the pastor Veersingh Kalesh
received threats while he officiated a service of prayer. "
But the Hindu persecution in Madhya Pradesh against Christians
also has other forms, as the president of the GCIC reports: "The
state government (led by the BJP - Bharatiya Janata Party, the
Hindu nationalist party, ed) abuse federal laws to harass the
Christian schools, putting them under pressure, interfering with
their management "
In March, the government has attempted to carry out a survey on
the Christian population in Madhya Pradesh: number of schools,
churches and priests, financial situation, foreign income and any
political patronage, details of Christians with a criminal record.
Following protests, the survey was blocked.