Christians have sought the disqualification of a lawmaker who allegedly insulted Christ to create a rift between tribal people in a central Indian state where a harsher anti-conversion law will soon come into force.
During a public meeting last month, Raimuni Bhagat, who represents the Jashpur constituency in the Chhattisgarh state assembly, caused outrage when she asked the gathering how they could expect Jesus to solve their problems if he could not remove the nails from his cross.
“We condemn the objectionable statement by Raimuni Bhagat,” Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh’s Christian Forum, told UCA News on Oct. 6.
Pannalal said the forum handed a petition to the Jashpur district collector on Oct. 5, calling on Governor Remen Deka to eject Bhagat from the assembly in Chhattisgarh, ruled by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Mod of which Bhagat is a member.
Pannalal said Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai’s failure to condemn Bhagat shows that she enjoys the patronage of the state government which is accused of dividing tribal people in the name of religion.
Her statement was a “planned move to create unrest,” in the state, Pannalal added.
On Oct. 3, 11 Christian organizations came together to form a 130-kilometer human chain in the state to seek disqualification of Bhagat for the controversial statement she uttered on Sept. 1.
This story was originally published in ucanews.com. Read the full story here.