Local Hindus, traders, and members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged a protest march on 26 December in Purola town of Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district against the unlawful mass conversion activities by Christian missionaries.
Hindus held a procession and handed a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jitendra Kumar demanding the withdrawal of the FIRs lodged against five Hindu villagers who earlier opposed the unlawful mass conversion of Nepali Hindu workers coming to Uttarkashi by a Christian missionary organisation ‘Asha Aur Jivan Kendra’ of Pastor Lazarus Cornelius and his wife Sushma Cornelius in Chibala village. They also demanded to ban such illegal conversion activities in the region. They stated to intensify the protest, if their demands were not met at the earliest.
“Around 150-250 were gathered there and the representatives of Christian Missionaries were converting people. We showed up and asked why are you converting people. But they said it is their right and threatened to call the police. Meanwhile, a woman from their group attacked a woman from our group with a stick. It infuriated other women present at the spot. However, we didn’t attack anybody,” Virendra Singh Rawat, working president of VHP’s Purola unit who is leading the protests, said.
They (Christian missionaries) have been engaged in such acts for the last two years. It’s a conspiracy against Hindus. They are luring people to convert by giving them money and offering them trips. Why do the police and administration have no intelligence on this, he further said.
The police have assured complete transparency in the matter and strict action against those found guilty.
“The case is still under police investigation. Police administration have ensured complete transparency in the matter. We will take strict action if any person is found guilty,” SDM Jitendra Kumar said.
Shops remained closed on 26 December till 1 pm following a call by Vyapar Mandal in the town to protest against the forced conversion activities in the region.
