Massive rallies in protest against persecution, discrimination held in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra

Massive rallies were organized in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to protest against the persecution of Christians and proliferation of state–level anti–conversion legislations that are severely hindering Christians from freely practicing or propagating their faith.

On October 18, hundreds of people, including Christians, Dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) attended a protest rally in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Sunil Sardar and Sukhlal Kushwaha.

According to news sources, the rally took place without much controversy and in a peaceful manner.

On September 10, 2006, the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported about the arrest of four Christians in Bharghat village in the Seoni District of Madhya Pradesh. These Christians were later granted bail. However, one of the accused, Pastor Jonathan Haroon, who was also meant to lead the rally in Seoni, was again charged with conversion.

Unfortunately, because the judge presiding over this case is on leave, Haroon is still awaiting bail.

Madhya Pradesh (MP) has seen numerous atrocities against Christians and Dalits this year.

The state government in July 2006 passed an amendment to the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, making the anti–conversion law even more stringent. Till date, over twenty cases filed against evangelists/pastors in Madhya Pradesh this year alone.

Meanwhile, on October 14, tens of thousands of Dalits, besides Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain and progressive Hindu leaders, converged in Nagpur, Maharashtra, to publicly burn copies of the anti–conversion laws adopted by some of India's states and expressed their support to anyone who wanted to abandon the draconic Indian caste system.

The event also marked the 50th anniversary of the conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the charismatic "architect of the Indian Constitution" and first law minister of independent India.

The rally, called the "World Freedom of Conscience and Freedom of Religion Day," was held at Kasturchand Park where, according to Udit Raj, the chairman of the All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Organisations, copies of the so–called anti–conversion laws were symbolically burnt.

"The government of Gujarat has approved an anti–conversion law that describes Jainism and Buddhism as 'Hindu sects.' We are outraged by this ridiculous action," Udit Raj said.

"On the one hand, the Sangh Parivar is attempting to intimidate and discriminate against Christians and Muslims by coming out with draconian laws; on the other, they are trying to bring Buddhism and Jainism under the umbrella of Hinduism. Where is freedom of conscience?" he asked.

"We love our country," Joseph D'Souza, international president of the Dalit Freedom Network and chairman of the All India Christian Council, said. "India is the world's largest democracy and an amazing land of diversity. Yet our nation must recognise the evil of a system which doesn't allow people to express freedom of conscience."

"India's Dalits are taught by the Hindu caste system that their fight against injustice is contempt for the divine. I urge the global community to stand in solidarity with the Dalits as they seek liberation from caste–based discrimination and modern–day slavery," he said. "We believe this peaceful rally will be the start of nationwide movement promoting the most basic human right – the freedom of conscience and the ability to choose one's religion. The citizens of India will overturn these anti–conversion laws through an unrelenting campaign in the media, in the courts, and in civic life," D'Souza added.

"We fully support the AICC and the All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Organisations in their fight against caste–based oppression and anti–conversion legislation. It is abhorrent that the Dalits are consistently denied the right to religious freedom through discriminatory legislation, social pressure and outright violence. We join with our partners in a call for true religious freedom in India," Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) National Director, Stuart Windsor, said.

"Today the situation is such that Christian priests and pastors can't help even a person who is ill or an accident victim in view of proselytisation charge. Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)–ruled states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have brought out anti–conversion laws that deny religious freedom. Now the victims of caste discrimination cannot even walk out of Hinduism," Madhu Chandra, regional secretary of All India Christian Council (AICC), said. "Christians cannot even carry out their normal services like education and health care because the moment they try to do so, Hindu activists would pounce up on them with the charge of converting people," he said, noting that people from Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh had approached AICC for help.

Anti–conversion laws are presently in force in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, 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 Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) is a national alliance of evangelical Christians and is a central network of evangelicals in India. It exists to empower and mobilize the local churches, church related institutions and individual Christians for effective witness for Christ.