NAGPUR, JAN 13: The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has demanded the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should be asked to enquire into the alleged forced conversions by Christian Missionaries and forced reconversions by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.In a statement issued here, Dr K Rajratnam, President and Dr Ipe Joseph, General Secretary, NCCI said the commission should be asked to go into the plans of VHP and Bajrang Dal to reconvert Christians on a large scale by using force and violence. The NCCI office bearers also strongly criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for his failure to restraint the fundamentalist forces represented by the VHP and Bajrang Dal.In a sharp reaction to the Prime Minister's suggestion for a national debate, the NCCI office bearers said the Prime Minister's recent visit to the Dangs district of south Gujarat has been counter productive and has lend credence to the false accusation of the Hindutva forces. The nation's outcry representing the Christians, moderate Hindus and liberal democratic forces like the Congress, Leftists and various regional political parties did not reach the ears of the Prime Minister. They alleged that he could hear only the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Gujarat BJP's false cries of forced conversions. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister lent credibility to the falsehood of VHP and Bajrang Dal that the Christian Missions are engaged in forced conversions and legitimised their blatantly false charges by calling for a national debate on conversions.A delegation of NCCI which visited the victims in the first week of January found that the Dangs District Collector and police chief were not aware of the forced conversions. They both categorically denied having any knowledge of such conversions, NCCI office bearers claimed.The NCCI office bearers hit out at the VHP and Bajrang Dal for unleashing a series of propaganda to mislead the nation by levying blatantly false accusations of forcible conversions. On the other hand the reconversions that have taken place in the Dangs district are forced at knife-point and Hindu idols were forcible placed into the hands of tribals, they alleged. It is a pity that the Prime Minister has justified such reconversions bringing down the confidence of minorities in his leadership, the release added.The NCCI office bearers spared no words to express their strong reactions to the Prime Minister's recent visit and his suggestion for a national debate. They concluded saying that the stance of the Prime Minister in this unfortunate situation is like the fence eating the farm. They have also called for unity of Christians to meet the Hindutva challenge and to impress upon these forces that the falsehood and persecution of Christians, in its intent and pattern, smacks of Nazism. They have expressed that there should be an honest dialogue between Christians and Hindutva protagonists.
