United Christian Forum, an organisation of all Christians in India, has demanded that Chhattisgarh minister for Religious Trusts and Endowments Brijmohan Agarwal, who has accused Christians of forcefully converting people of other religions, prove his claims or present those people who have been forcefully converted. If not, the minister should unequivocally apologise to the nation for maligning the Christian community.
In a release issued by AC Michael, national coordinator UCF said, "The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act 1968 has been in existence for more than 50 years now and there is no record of any conviction under the law despite it being stringent as the offence in the act are cognizable in nature.
"This contradicts the statement by the minister on illegal conversions happening. Perhaps it had never been used since there was no hate propaganda to view charitable acts as a mode of prompting conversions. Freedom of Religion Acts are already in place in 11 states in India and till today not a single conviction of forceful or fraudulent means of conversions in any court of law in the country," the release stated.
The minister is liable to be questioned for making a false and baseless statement without the support of any credible evidence of such illegal conversions taking place in the state.
"We, the United Christian Forum, demand the minister to come up with evidence to prove his claims or present those people who have been forcefully converted. If not, the minister should unequivocally apologize to the nation for maligning the Christian community," the release added.
"Healthcare and educational institutions run by the Christian community is nothing new. This is an age-old practice. Moreover the Christian community has contributed immensely towards the upliftment of the poor and underprivileged in Chhattisgarh.
Acknowledged by nobody less than the Prime Minister of our country, Narendra Modi at various occasions including recently held Christmas diplomacy lunch hosted by PM himself.
Such false allegations by a person of authority will only cause division in the society and disturb communal harmony," the release further stated.
