A Hindu nationalist group in Rajasthan has threatened the Catholic Church over plans to build a school and hospital for tribal communities, accusing it of carrying out forced religious conversions.
On 14 September, members of Bajrang Dal confronted church officials in Jalana village, Dungarpur district. Witnesses said the group used abusive language and warned that church activities must stop or face consequences. Police were later called to disperse the crowd.
Father Siby Thomas, parish priest of Jalana, said the accusations are false. “I have been working here for 15 years and this is the first time we have come under pressure based on such claims,” he said. He explained that the church centre currently serves as a venue for seminars, meetings, and prayer gatherings, sometimes attended by non-Christians.
The Udaipur diocese purchased land in Jalana with the aim of building a school and hospital to support the poor and tribal communities. Father Thomas said the opposition is an attempt to prevent disadvantaged groups from gaining education and health services.
Church leaders believe the harassment is politically motivated. Father Basil Makwana, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, said the threats followed the state’s new anti-conversion law, enacted on 9 September. Rajasthan has become the 12th Indian state to introduce such legislation, which imposes prison sentences of up to 20 years and heavy fines for unauthorised religious conversions.
“Right-wing groups like Bajrang Dal are now emboldened to take the law into their own hands in the name of curbing conversions,” Father Makwana said, adding that political forces may be behind the campaign.
Adapted from UCA News.
