Tension prevailed in Asroi area of Aligarh

Tension prevailed in Asroi area of Aligarh following reports of re-conversion of some Christians to Hinduism.  Around 72 christians were reconverted into Valmikis even as Christians alleged foul play by the Hindu organisations, which are raking up ‘love Jihad’ and other issues to make the country a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

 Not just the 72 Valmikis were reconverted into Hindus from Christians at Asroi village, about 25 km from the Aligarh district headquarters but a 7th Day Adventist church was also converted into a Shiv temple, where these Valmikis used to pray, the report said.  According to reports, these Valmikis converted to Christianity in 1995 and now they have again embraced Hinduism. The rituals for re-conversion were held inside the church on Tuesday last and all the 72 people were accepted in the Hindu community. a picture of lord Shiva has been installed inside the church while the Cross was placed outside the boundary wall of the premises. But later as tension rose, the Shiva portrait was removed by the local people following objection by the pastor.

Bajrang Dal leaders of the district claim that this is “home coming” of the Valmikis and not re-conversion as claimed by the media.  “The decision to return to their own faith was appreciable and they were not forced to take such decision. But we had convinced them to reconvert to their religion and met the family members several times before their decision,” the leader said.  Several Valmikis also claim that they were forced to re-convert to their original religion, as they were “neglected” by Christianity. But Father Jonanthan lal,  pastor at City Methodist Church, denied such re-conversion claims and alleged it was a conspiracy against the religion. He also blamed the Hindu organisation for spreading malicious propaganda against the religion.

Meanwhile district officials claimed that the situation was tense in the area after the report of re-conversion but under control. The people who were involved in  re-conversion were also keeping mum on the issue.