RSS chief alleges ‘mass conversion’ of Sikhs to Christianity in Punjab; "Not true," says former CM

Jalandhar – The leader of the militant Hindu group, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has launched a massive tirade against the Christian community of Punjab, alleging that the minority community has been forcibly, fraudulently and covertly ‘converting’ hundreds of Sikhs to Christianity.

During his short visit to Punjab recently, the RSS supremo, K.S. Sudarshan, told the media that various Christian outfits were covertly indulging in ‘conversion’ activities in different parts of Punjab, especially in the Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur areas.

While refusing to elaborate, the RSS chief said, “a large number of Majahabi Sikhs had adopted Christianity” – a statement regarded by the media as an attempt to ignite communal violence within the state.

Mr. Sudarshan had courted controversy ever since his visit to Punjab.

On one occasion, he stated that 95 to 98 per cent of Muslims, Christians and Sikhs were of Indian origin and wondered how an individual or a community with roots in this country could consider itself a minority class.

Elaborating that only the Jews and Persians belonged to the minority community in this country as their ancestors were from outside India, he said Muslims, Christians and Sikhs of this country should stop treating themselves as “members of the minority community.”

Besides, criticizing the Church, for not changing its mindset “feel and act” as Indian, the RSS chief added that “certain Christian and Jehadi Muslim outfits” were “engaged in achieving political goals in the name of Christianity and Islam.”

According to news sources, Mr. Sudarshan’s visits to Jalandhar and later to Amritsar had evoked widespread protests.

In Jalandhar, in spite of police security being beefed up for fear of attacks against the churches in both urban and rural areas, a clash took place between activists of the Hindu Yuva Manch (RSS youth wing) and Punjab Christian Movement (PCM) demonstrators, who were demanding a ban on the RSS chief’s presence.

Incidentally, Punjab's former state Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had denied the accusations of ‘conversion,’ stating, “no conversion of Sikhs had taken place in the state.”

Fr. Babu Joseph, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) spokesman, has also denounced the comments passed by the RSS chief, calling them “unwarranted and uncalled for.”

“The Constitution of India has recognized these two communities (Muslims and Christians) as religious minorities, and as such has granted them constitutional guarantees which must be respected by all, including Sudarshan," he said in a published statement.