Persecution of Christians in Madhya Pradesh continues

Even as the state government of Madhya Pradesh is looking to put a more stringent anti–conversion law in place, persecutions of the minority communities, including Christians continue to be on the rise.

According to Dave Stravers of Grand Rapids, Michigan–based Mission India, a mob of armed Hindu militants attacked a small house church last month.

Breaking down the door, the attackers barged in, wielding large bamboo clubs and began their assault on the assembled believers.

However, when the women screamed in fear, "a large number of neighbours came to the rescue of their Christian neighbours and drove off the extremists," Stravers said.

When the police arrived at the scene, some extremists accused the believers of forcibly converting Hindus, allowing the police to promptly arrest the Christians.

Though the Christians were released subsequently, they were told that until the case is settled, they should not baptize.

Stravers admitted that such reports have a negative effect. "Christians hear about their fellow believers in this other town that got beaten up and taken to jail, so then they're more cautious. They might be intimidated, they might become fearful of carrying out their ministry that they're being trained for, or even that we've trained them for," he said.

Nonetheless, ministry will continue, Stravers said. "These kinds of incidents do not usually produce a fearful attitude. Rather, victims are often more resolute in their evangelistic vision, and redouble their efforts," he added.

Anti–conversion laws are presently in force in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh. Gujarat state passed a similar law in March 2003; but the law has not been enforced because the government has not yet formulated rules under the Act. Tamil Nadu was another state that enacted the anti–conversion law in October 2002. However, the state government scrapped it following the defeat of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. In Rajasthan, though the State Assembly has passed the anti–conversion laws, yet, it is pending before the Governor for the assent. The same is the case in Himachal Pradesh.