Divided over conversion claims in schools: ‘Will look into matter’, says Gujarat minister; lone Christian BJP MLA says ‘no proof’

In purported videos of one of his kathas held in Tapi district’s Songadh on March 13-14, Bapu is heard saying, “It is good that students are taught Bhagavad Gita. But the problem is that 75% of teachers are Christians who do not let this happen. They take salaries from the government and convert people. We need to be aware of this.”

He was referring to the Gujarat government’s initiative to introduce Bhagavad Gita in government schools.

He is also heard saying that he has received a letter from a government teacher complaining of the same. He said he has handed over the complaint to Pansheriya who was present at the katha held at Gunasada Sugar Factory ground in Songadh.

“It is true that I was handed over a hand-written, anonymous note, purportedly from a teacher who had complained that teachers are forcibly converting students in the tribal areas. I, too, learnt this from local teachers and people from these areas. Also, that Christian leaders are forcing people into superstitions,” Minister of State for Education Pansheriya told The Indian Express.

He further said, “Earlier, the entire tribal belt used to follow Shabari Mata and perform her Puja but in the last 40 years, especially in Tapi district, the majority of tribals are Christians. Thus, in schools too, there are Christian teachers who are involved in forceful religious conversion. They are also not teaching Bhagavad Gita to students, which has been made mandatory from the ongoing academic session.”

Pansheriya said, “We are not against any religion but if religious conversions with malafide intentions are being done, this will be checked and stopped. We will collect such complaints, get them verified and appropriate action will be taken.”

Kokni, the BJP MLA who represents the constituency of Vyara in Tapi district, told The Indian Express, “The claims made by Morari Bapu have no basis. We have not encountered allegations or complaints of any teacher of Christian faith being involved in religious conversion in the district. Bapu should come up with proof of his statements.”

He further said, “Before 1970, our tribal district was lacking in health and education. The missionaries arrived with health care and education facilities, and people accepted them. These missionaries were helpful to the tribals in our district and have not lured them with any other thing.”

Congress’s MLA from Khedbrahma, Dr Tushar Chaudhary, said, “The teachers are appointed by the government, and they teach the prescribed syllabus. Till date, we have not received any complaint of Christian teachers’ involvement in religious conversion of innocent tribal Hindus. We condemn the statements of Morari Bapu, and it has been done to create tension among Hindus and Christians who live happily in the district. We condemn such a statement given by Bapu.”

Chaudhary, a former Union Minister and a native of Tapi district, said, “There is no such issue in Tapi district, and there is no such village in the district where there is a conflict between Hindus and Christians. In 2009, I attended an event celebrating 100 years of establishment of a church in the village. This shows that Christians have been present in Tapi district for centuries.”

Haresh Gamit, Tapi president of Samast Christi Samaj, Bharat, an organisation which works in Gujarat and Maharashtra, said, “These are false accusations. If that (forced conversions) is the case, there would have been at least one FIR against anyone. The government would have had some proof. We (Christians) are the majority here. This is the reason they want to rake up a controversy.”

He further said, “We are ready to debate openly. They have been saying this for years now. We say that tribals are not Hindus then how can you say they have been converted? Every day they keep giving such statements of conversion to defame Tapi district.”

Meanwhile, Bhikhabhai Patel, national vice-president of Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh, a teachers’ body, has also demanded an investigation into Bapu’s allegations. “Schools across the entire tribal belt from Danta to Umargam should be checked and if teachers are found involved in religious conversions, appropriate action should be taken by the government,” he said.