The contentious issue of religious conversions is being raised in India to target minority groups like Christians. Last Sunday, police in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh started a probe against 10 Protestant Christians for allegedly violating a state law that criminalizes religious conversion.
The Christians were accused by a state-run child rights body of trafficking and conversion activities following a surprise raid in a Protestant Church-run orphanage. Community leaders alleged that the statutory child rights body is being used to target and harass Christians.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Supreme Court of India expressed concerns over alleged forceful religious conversion saying it affects the national security, freedom of religion, and conscience of citizens. The top court asked the federal government about efforts to curb conversions.
The remarks came in response to a petition by a pro-Hindu leader who sought stringent steps against religious conversions across the nation. Christian leaders have also dismissed claims by Hindu groups that three Swedish tourists deported last month from the eastern state of Assam were preachers.
A news item in a local Hindi language newspaper alleging religious conversion at an orphanage run by the Mid India Christian Service was shared by Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on his Twitter handle. (Photo: Twitter)
This story was originally published in ucanews.com . Read the full story here