AHMEDABAD: Hardline Hindu groups came under fire yesterday after some 200 Christians were converted in the prime minister’s home state, amid increasing concern at the right-wing government’s perceived pro-Hindu tilt.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) said it converted Christian tribal people to their original Hindu faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gujarat late Saturday.
The mass event drew widespread criticism from Christian groups and Modi’s political opponents yesterday. They accused radical organisations linked to Modi’s ruling party, like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), of forcing or enticing religious minorities to convert to Hinduism.
“Extreme right wing is flexing its muscles. VHP/RSS through Hindutatva ... rewriting history and economic policies,” Digvijay Singh, a leader of the opposition Congress party, posted on Twitter.
A Gujarat-based priest said he could not “accept that anyone who has been a Christian will convert to other religion by personal choice”. “VHP is forcing people and luring them to convert their religion,” Father Dominic said.
The mass ceremony took place in a tribal village 350km south of the state capital Ahmedabad.
“Over 200 people were asked to throw their religious pendants in a holy fire and were given new pendants with the image of (Hindu) Lord Rama,” Ajit Solanki, a Gujarat state VHP secretary, said. AFP
