Forced religious conversion of workers under the guise of prayer meeting in Durg, Chhattisgarh; Two pastors arrested

Derogatory remarks were being made about Hindu Deities

Durg (Chhattisgarh) – In the New Mannam Nagar area of Borsi, a prayer meeting being held in a house was exposed as a cover for the forced religious conversion of labourers. Hindu organisations brought the incident to light, after which unrest spread in the area. Upon receiving information, the Police and administration immediately reached the spot and arrested two pastors – Manohar Tandi and Akash Basera. A case has been registered against them for hurting religious sentiments.

According to Hindu organisations, workers who had come from Odisha were lured with promises of food and medical treatment and taken to the prayer meeting. During this gathering, derogatory remarks were made against Hindu Deities. Along with this, workers were pressured to convert to Christianity. Once the matter came to light, Tehsildar Prafulla Gupta and Superintendent of Police Sukhnandan Rathod visited the site and initiated an enquiry. Police Inspector Rajendra Lahare said that legal action is underway following the complaints of forced conversions. This incident has reignited the demand for stricter controls on religious conversions in the State.

Prayer meetings ongoing for two years

According to local activists, such prayer meetings have been taking place in the area for the past two years. Earlier, after objections were raised, they were stopped for some time but later resumed. On Sunday, 31^st August, Hindu organisations objected to the ongoing prayer meeting, after which the Police took action.

Editorial Perspectives

If the Government truly wishes to put an end to religious conversions in the country, then it must expose the roots of those who carry them out—who funds them and how much, how their networks operate, and who among the locals provides them assistance. Only by making such matters public and taking strict action against the guilty can the menace be curbed.

It is shameful for Hindus that despite being the majority in the country, minorities are still able to convert them. The most effective way to prevent conversions is for Hindus to receive proper education on Dharma and strengthen their sense of pride in their own Dharma.