By Matters India Reporter
Jhabua, Jan 22, 2024: Christians in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh have protested right wing Hindu activists planting saffron flags atop four Protestant churches, a day before Lord Ram’s idol was consecrated in Ayodhya temple in neighboring Uttar Pradesh.
Some miscreants on January 21 shouted “Jail Shree Ram” (hail Lord Ram)” while tying the flags with the Ayodhya Ram temple inscribed on it to the crosses on church tops.
Their companions stood on the ground repeating the same slogan.
Police reportedly removed the flags, but have not recorded the Christian complaints.
The Ram Temple consecration ceremony took place on January 22 afternoon, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having performed the first aarti, a Hindu ritual of worship.
Three of the vandalized churches in Jhabua belonged to the Shalom Church and one to the Church of North India.
Church leaders said the police ignored their pleas to file First Information Report against the miscreants who are reportedly members of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP rules the state as well as heads the federal coalition government.
“We will file a court case in case higher authorities in the police failed to address our grievances,” Auxiliary Bishop Paul Muniya of Shalom Church told Matters India on January 22.
The prelate said his people have video records to prove the charges against the miscreants.
Father Rockey Shah, the public relation officer of the Jhabua Catholic diocese, condemned the “sacrilegious acts” and demanded action against those behind it.
“The whole nation is happy because of the consecration of the idol of Lord Ram in his birth place, but some are trying to destroy communal harmony and peace in the country,” he bemoaned.
The priest explained that India, being a democratic country, allows its citizens freedom to choose and practice a religion of one’s choice.
“But some in the name of the majority religion force us to display the flag of their religion on our churches. It is not only illegal but also unprecedented. It will lead to disharmony and hatred,” Father Shah told Matters Indian on January 22.
He wondered how the Ram Rajya (rule of Lord Ram) would be realized if Hindus forced members of minority communities to follow their religion. “Ram Rajya speaks of peace, harmony, fraternity and respect for each other,” the Catholic priest explained.
Father Shah appealed the attackers to ponder whether their actions reflect Lord Ram’s teachings or damage his name. “Lord Ram is known as ‘Maryada Purushottam’ (Lord of righteousness),” he added.
Narbu Amaliyar, pastor of a church in Dabtalai village near Ranapur, told The Print that around 25 men arrived yelling slogans around 3 pm, soon after they completed the Sunday services.
The pastor said he had recognized the men, who are from a neighboring village. “I tried to tell them that this is not right. I told them that we are just worshipers here and they should not trouble us, but they refused to listen,” he said and added, “I didn’t understand what was happening, this has never happened before.”
Jhabua Superintendent of Police Agam Jain Speaking told The Quint that no FIR has been registered yet.
“Our team visited the site on Sunday evening. We inquired what happened. This was a person’s home, that he uses for prayer, it wasn’t a church. So, we didn’t file an FIR suo moto. The person didn’t want to file a complaint, so no complaint has been filed yet,” the police official said.
Pastor Amaliyar denied they prayed in his home. “It is a church I started back in 2016. Every Sunday, 30-40 people come here for prayers. It’s a place of worship. My home is separate,” he said. He agreed that he hasn’t filed a complaint yet.
“The men called me later apologizing. So, I am not sure if I want to file a complaint yet. I will discuss with my village sarpanch and take a call on that,” the pastor added.
Hindu groups have targeted Christians of Jhabua with “ghar vapsi” (homecoming) programs to convert them to Hinduism.
These groups accuse Christians of illegally converting gullible indigenous people through the façade of charitable works.
Jhabhua, a predominantly tribal district, has 4 percent of its 1 million people Christian.
Madhya Pradesh is among the 11 states in the country that has a stringent anti-conversion law but it is not apparently used against the “ghar vapasi.”
Christians are only 0.29 percent of more than 72 million people in the state.