At a Christmas program he hosted at his residence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the teachings of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and highlighted his government’s slogan of an inclusive development.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Hindutva fanatics allegedly disrupted Christmas prayers at different places in Uttar Pradesh over claims of religious conversion.
Hindutva Watch, a research initiative which tracks hate crimes in the country, on Tuesday documented two incidents of prayer disruptions and brought them to light through its Twitter handle.
The first incident happened in the Kanpuriyan village of Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareilly on Monday. According to reports, the police arrested three Christians after an FIR was filed against them over claims of religious conversion. The three were taken into custody after members of the Bajrang Dal raised objections to prayers being held in the privacy of their house.
“Bajrang Dal members stopped a Christian prayer meet over allegations of religious conversions. Police have arrested 3 members of Christian community,” tweeted Hindutva Watch while posting a video report on the incident from local news.
Another incident of prayer disruption has been reported on 24 December from Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria. A mob from the Bajrang Dal and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) arrived at a local church where Christians were holding prayers. The Hindutva people were informed that religious conversion was taking place at the church. The priest who was holding prayers fled after the mob created ruckus on the church premises. The video shows a group of people also interrogating members of the Christian community attending prayers.
A local BJP leader, Anand Shahi, wrote to the state government and the BJP leadership, both at at national level and state level, claiming that poor Hindus were being converted. He called it “religious conspiracy” and demanded strict action in this regard.
People on social media have denounced the prayer disruptions. “None of the anti-conversion extremists can prove even a single case of forced conversions in any part of India. Nevertheless they are determined to use their political & muscle power to dominate people into a theocratic state,” said a social media user Antony Suneel.
Reports of prayer disruptions have come to the fore as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a program at his residence on Christmas Day. Addressing the event, he lauded the teachings of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) and highlighted his government’s slogan of an inclusive development.
