ICC Note:
Leaders of the radical RSS group in India have claimed that they plan to reconvert thousands of Christians and Muslims to Hinduism over the Christmas holiday in a massive re-conversion ceremony. Across India, re-conversion campaigns have been led by Hindu radical groups and in many cases entire communities of religious minorities have been forced to convert to Hinduism or face dire consequences. Will the government of India step in to insure the Freedom of Religion in being upheld or will these massive re-conversion movements go unquestioned?
12/11/2014 India (Asia News) – The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a radical Hindu paramilitary group, plans to convert 4,000 Christian and 1,000 Muslim families to Hinduism on the 25th of December, in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh). Militants call it the “Ghar Whapsi” (returning home) program and claim it will be “the greatest ever happened.” If it will really happen, it would be the fourth case in less than three months, always in Uttar Pradesh.
Personalities from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Central government ruling Hindu ultra-nationalist party, will attend the event.
Father Francis Arackal, a Dominican priest and head of the department of Communication at St. Joseph’s College (Bangalore), downplayed the event. “The RSS which claims to be upholding the culture of India and Hinduism hasn’t really understood the essence of Indian culture and the essence of the Hindu religion. No wonder they are doing the cheap conversions,” he said.
“Aligarh was chosen because it’s time we wrest the Hindu city from Muslims. It is a city of brave Rajputs and their temples on whose remains Muslim institutions have been established,” said RSS regional pracharak Rajeshwar Singh.
“Christmas was chosen as the day for conversion because the event is a shakti pariksha (test of strength) for both religions,” said Singh. “If their religion is better, they can stop them. It is a test for both of us. If they come to us on Christmas, it is the biggest rejection of the faith.”
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