Dangs Kumbh prepares for ‘homecoming’

Sangh Parivar leaders have been trying to deflect any questions on conversion or reconversion plans. ‘‘It is just a gathering of tribals living in the area. Religious leaders will come and preside over the function,’’ says RSS spokesperson Pradeep Jain, reiterating that reconversion will not be an agenda during the mela.

The Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, a sister outfit of the RSS, is organising the mela during February 11-13 in the Dangs.

Recently, the organisers had launched the website to give publicity to the mela for which they have been planning for almost two years.

The website says, the ‘‘poor, illiterate, mild Vanavasi Hindu’’ will no longer be made an obvious target by the Christians, who have used the Dangs as a hotbed for missionary activity. It further states that the Hindus have a right to fight against the missionaries.

According to the website, the organisers have invited well-known religious leaders to give discourses during the three-day mela, where an estimated six lakh Hindus are expected to gather. It also says that crores of rupees are being spent on the mela to boost to the ‘‘movement of Hindu awakening’’ in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The Vanavasi Kalayan Ashram has sought donations from across the globe and the Gujarat government of Chief Minister Narendra Modi had already extended full co-operation, according to the site.

Kailash Sharma, an organiser, says: ‘‘The Vanavasi Hindus will get confidence. The momentum generated by the kumbh is expected to trigger the reunion of thousands of Christian Vanavasi converts with the Hindu fold.’’

However, it is being felt that the mela may create an anti-Christian atmosphere in the tribal district. ‘‘The VHP and the RSS have a right to organise the mela, but they have no right to create an anti-Christian atmosphere in the district. Their idea of ‘return’ of the Christians to the Hindu fold is bound to create some tension among the tribals,’’ says Father Cedric Prakash of Prashant, an NGO.

Superintendent of Police (Dangs) B K Srimali said that he was not aware of the reconversion programme. ‘‘The mela is just a religious programme, but we will ensure that the Christians in the Dangs are protected during the three-day event,’’ he said.