Source

KOTA, INDIA, February 25, 2005: In Rajasthan, Kota continued to remain tense a day after Bajrang Dal workers attacked a Bible graduation ceremony at the Emmanuel Mission. They have alleged that forced religious conversions were taking place at the mission. The protests turned violent after the police stopped the workers from attacking the gathering. For now, the mission has been allowed to carry on with its three-day convention under police protection. But minority groups in the state are troubled by the state government’s decision to go ahead with its anti-conversion Bill announced in the assembly yesterday. “We will not allow them to convert Hindus. The VHP, RSS and the Bajrang Dal will not allow this to go ahead,” said Pratap Singh Tomar, VHP activist. But the Emmanuel Mission says the ceremony for delegates from all over the country is for those Christians who have successfully completed a Bible course and are now being given certificates. “By giving out one certificate we are not carrying out conversions. And anyway, Christianity does not believe in religious conversion but conversion from the heart,” said Bishop M. A. Thomas, Emmanuel Mission. It was this conversion controversy in Kota that prompted the Rajasthan government to announce an anti-conversion bill.

Post Views: 590