RSS converts 53 families to make J’khand block ‘Christianity-free’
At least 53 families in five tribal-dominated villages “returned to Hindu fold” in the last one month as part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s “Christianity-free” block campaign in Jharkhand’s Arki, RSS workers have said.
These families live in villages that are part of the Sindri panchayat, which the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, says has been “hijacked” by Christian missionaries over the last 10 years. The alleged “ghar wapsi”, sources said, would continue throughout April.
“You cannot call it conversion. We are only bringing our lost brothers and sisters back to their religion,” said RSS Saiyojak Laxman Singh Munda, who is spearheading the campaign.
“We want a Christianity-free block. The villagers will soon return to their roots.” The tribals were lured into Christianity by the missionaries, said Munda, who is also the BJP’s deputy president of Khunti district in which Sindri panchayat falls.
“Ghar wapsi”, the Hindi word for homecoming, is the proselytising campaign launched by some Hindu outfits to convert non-Hindus and “bring them back into the fold of Hinduism”.
The RSS and its various affiliates have been accused of terrorising and forcing people into changing their religion.
On April 7, at least seven Christian families — including tribals and non-tribals — underwent a “shuddhikaran”, or a purification ceremony in Kochasindhri village. Sandalwood paste was smeared on their foreheads, their feet washed and a “tilak” performed by local Hindu priests. “You cannot call it conversion. We are only bringing our lost brothers and sisters back to their religion. We want a Christianity-free block. The villagers will soon return to their roots,” said Munda.
Tribals account for 26.2% of Jharkhand’s population of 33 million. Around 4.5% of these tribals are Christians while the remaining follow the Sarna code.
Over the years, several tribals in Jharkhand have embraced Christianity. The state government in Jharkhand, too, has been expressing concern over proselytisation of tribals.
CM Raghubar Das has warned strictest possible action against forcing tribals into changing their faith. RSS workers along with the members of the NGO Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra went house to house to convince the tribals and also held public meetings to “expose” how the missionaries were taking them away from their roots.