Amid protests from opposition parties and religious organisations, mainly Christians, against Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Bill-2017, Union Minister of State for Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sudarshan Bhagat has patted the State government, saying that the move was need of the hour in a state like Jharkhand.
“Evangelism has remained a long lasting problem in this part of the country. I believe that conversion of religion many a times extends to conversion of nation. Tribal base of the State, out of its utter poverty and other reasons, has been trapped most easily for evangelism and they have remained most affected so far. There is a long history of organised efforts of evangelism in this area of country due to its poverty and illiteracy. This is why I believe steps like Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Bill-2017 are need of the hour,” said Bhagat on Thursday.
Taking churches head on, he added that lakhs of people were left uprooted with their culture and tradition in tribal dominated districts of the State and brainwashing them against the establishment became much easier for those indulged in conversion of religion of poor tribals for their long-term plan.
BJP State Secretary Deepak Prakash said that according to 2011 census, Hindu population growth was recorded at 21.42 percent. “At the same time, Muslim population grew at whopping 28.48 percent year on year with Christian population dominating this growth rate at 29.74 percent yearly in the State. This shows how evangelism has affected demographic dividend of the State,” said Prakash.
Notably, the government had faced strong criticism not only from opposition parties but also from intellectuals like left-leaned Economist and social activist like Jean Drèze over its advertisement in many newspapers on August 11 in which government presented Mahatma Gandhi saying that he was against evangelist moves of Christians in India.
Bhagat said that it was for the government to decide whether it comes forward to cut reservation benefits short to those converted or forcefully converted. He repeatedly said that no church or individual could ever attempt or succeed to convert affluent individuals of other castes. “But I am sure the government is reaching out to the poorest of poor now and doing so many things to get their lifestyle upgraded. But I am sure forceful evangelism in disguise of service to humanity is, in Gandhi’s words itself, a sin,” said Bhagat.