Protest Outside Church over Allegations of Conversion
Patna: Sept. 8, 2007
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopal Prasad and Kishori Sao of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), on Saturday in Fatuha, demonstrated against a local church that was rumored to be holding a congregation with the intention to convert dozens of dalits from Hinduism to Christianity.
Demanding an immediate ban on religious conversions, Prasad alleged the church was heavily involved in targeting poor people in the area and converting them into Christians by luring them with money and other promises.
Chanting slogans demanding a stop on such activities, protestors said the church had been actively involved in converting poor Hindus to Christianity which, in turn, was dividing the rural community on religious grounds.
Rudal Paswan, the pastor of the church, however, denied trying to convert dalits in the area. "We never engage in any such activity and charges against us are completely false," he said.
Over 50 young men and women who had gathered at the church also denied having come there with the intention of converting to Christianity.
"We had credible information about what was going on at the church and despite their denials, we know our information was correct," said Sao adding the VHP would continue to monitor the church and oppose any such acts that are designed to deceive unsuspecting poor men and women in the name of religion'.
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