Renuka Singh is elected to the ranks of the Hindu nationalist ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh. In Madhya Pradesh there is a strict anti-conversion law that provides for severe penalties for tribal conversions. Christians in all of India are just 2.3%.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - In India the "anti-social" elements mislead the tribals from their original religion (Hinduism) and convert them by taking advantage of their poverty and ignorance. This is the umpteenth declaration against the Christians and the activities carried out in favor of the poorest and marginalized sections of the population by a government minister of India.
The politician in question is Renuka Singh, in charge of the Ministry for Tribal Affairs under the executive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On 12 October, she made this accusation during a meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking to AsiaNews Sajan K George, president of the Global Council for Indian Christians (GCIC), condemns "the false propaganda of forced conversions that is used on a regular basis by far-right forces. The groups that support Hindutva in Nadhya Pradesh fabricate accusations of forced conversions ".
Renuka Singh is Minister of State for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. She is elected in the ranks of the Hindu nationalist ruling party Bjp (Bharatiya Janata Party) in Chhattisgarh, the state she is originally from. During the rally in Madhya Pradesh, she said: "The anti-socials, supported by foreign funding, are luring the" Hindu "tribals in the name of good education and better health services to carry out conversions. All this is sad and offensive ".
The minister also criticized the lack of a law that prevents conversions through enticements. Then she added: "When we receive complaints, we reach people and take care of them and their right to follow the religion to which they belong".
According to Sajan K George, the accusations of politics "are completely false. The Church is at the forefront of providing quality medical care and ensuring education in rural areas to the tribal and Dalit poor. The government census data shows a decline in the Christian population. Christians are just 2.3% of the country's total population. Furthermore, in Madhya Pradesh there is already a strict anti-conversion law that provides for severe penalties for tribal conversions ”.