[sacw] Truth Behind "Forcible Conversions"

[Harsh Kapoor]

24 Feb 1999
Posted below is a report by EKTA: Citizens Collective for Communal Harmony
(Mumbai, India) on Ulhasnagar (located near, Mumbai)
( Harsh Kapoor, South Asia Citizens Web )
===========================================
Truth Behind "Forcible Conversions"

Report of the EKTA sponsored inquiry team into the alleged forced
conversions in Ulhasnagar.

Recently there was a news in the section of media that Christian
Missionaries are using unfair means and bringing about forced conversions
on a large scale in Ulhasnagar. Since this 'charge' came in the light of
nationwide allegations against the Christian Missionaries, EKTA decided to
sponsor a inquiry committee to investigate the matter and find the truth
behind these allegations.

1) The committee visited different areas of Ulhasnagar and conducted
extensive interviews with the RSS, BJP, VHP and other Youth Hindu Groups
and with Ulhasnagar Christian Association. It also talked at length with
those who have been 'forced' to convert, and also to those who are using
allurement to enforce conversion. The committee also examined different
documents presented by all the sides and visited the house of one
ex-convert from where the idols of Hindu Gods were removed.
2) BJP Leader Mr. Rajani, who earlier was the part of the Press
Conference where these allegations were made, stated that these
conversions are going on from last 7 years (from 1992-93). Number of
prayer halls have come up during this time and every Sunday buses are
arranged to take the people to nearly Tabor Ashram where people across the
religions are taken there on the pretext of curing them. Since last 1 year
these activities have been stepped up and BJP Office has been receiving
number of complaints from the people about the 'Activities' of
missionaries because of which many families are feeling harassed. Mr.
Satyapal Malani, President of Thane Hindu Manch, which is a conglomerate
of many other Sangh Parivar affiliates, like VHP, Shiv Sena, Hindu Sena,
Hindu Raksha Samiti, Patit Pawan Sanghatan etc. supplemented that these
missionaries have employed nearly 200 young boys & girls, who visit the
houses, when the elderly male members are away to work, and they make the
'gullible' women and childern to woo Christianity. These preachers are
stubborn and they keep visiting houses despite refusal on the part of the
hosts to entertain them. Both of them especially Mr. Rajani said that they
try to 'trap' those family members who are under mental or financial
stress and prevail upon them to take their help for solution of their
physical or emotional problems. One Mr. Ashok Tolani, an activist of VHP
added that around 20,000 conversions have taken place during last one
year.
3) They have extensively propagated the case of Mr. Purushottam
Chamandas Gurnani, whose family members have been converted to
Christianity. The committee talked to the daughter of Mr. Gurnani, a 21
year old final year graduate student (Chanda) about the press reports and
the allegations against her. She said that she has adopted Christianity as
per own free will and the activists of BJP etc. are trying to threaten
her.
4) The role of one Mr. Soni Basantani figured prominently in most of
the allegations. The BJP/RSS activists stated that he is the 'major'
problem as he gets a commission of Rs. 15,000/- per conversion, Mr. Malani
went to extent of saying that Mr. Basantani has illegal trades as well.
Through his efforts there have been many conversions and one owner of
Regal Medical Store has been given Rs. 25 lakhs for conversions because of
which he has been able to open 2 more medical shops.
We met most of those who have become believers of Jesus through the
efforts of Mr.Basantani.
a) Soni Basantani : Became a believer five years ago. He had a tough
time in his marriage and was fairly 'happy-go-lucky' type of person. He
owns Shabnam Showroom. His wife Kavita first came in contact with the
Christian groups and gradually Mr. Soni also got impressed by the
teachings of Bible. He says he believes in it and tells his friends,
relatives and associates to come for prayer meetings. But there is no
pressure or coercion, its a consistent appeal. He gets along well with his
six brothers & five sisters who are non-Christians. He
has modest income and there is no question of his doing it for money. He
sounded to be deeply spiritual and a serious person.
b) Dinesh Chawla : Is a Christian from last 4 years. Studied Bible
and liked it. According to him it transformed his life. He has a modest
business and does not do active preaching. Lives in a joint family with
other non Christian members. There is no tension in the family on this
count.
c) Mr. Prakash Vasiani : Owns Regal Medical Stores. Is a
Christian from last 11/2 years. He has medical shops. His 1st one opened
in 83, second in 1990 and third in 1991. He sells medicines in emergence
hours also. His medical shops are popular because of the availability of
drugs during emergency hours. Has a joint family. Christians and
non-Christians live together without any problem. He has lately been
receiving threats from the Hindu Manch people.
d) Similarly Mr. Jayraj, owns a VIP luggage shop and is a Christian
from last 2 years. Their are 'idols' of Hindu religion in his shops. Mr.
Shevak Vasiani owns a Timber wood shop and is a Christian from last 2and a
1/2 years. He is the only believer amongst his 3 brothers. There are few
Muslims also (Imtiaz & Jabber) who have taken to Christianity
5) Mr. Malani, the President of Hindu Manch alleged that these
missioneries are breaking the Hindu idols in the houses of Hindus. He
cited the example of one Mrs. Daya. We visited the house of Mrs. Daya and
found out that two small 'idols' one of Sai Baba and other of the Lord
Ganesh were removed from the wall. We asked her as to how this has
happened. She said that she became Christian of her own will and during
that time she was party to the process, whereby the idols were removed.
6) The number being given of conversions is highly exaggerated.
There is just a small circle of people who have taken to Christianity
during last few years, and most of the people kept taking the same names
over and over again. The prayer halls which have come up during last 8
years have been coming up due to people praying at their homes. There are
around 15 catholic/protestant churches, which are there from last many
years. Out of a population of around 7 lakh,s Christians constitute
around 12,000 of which in OT 2 there are 200, in Punjabi colony gate No.
1, 300, No. 3 OT : 1000 people, No. 4 - 2000, around 20 Kannada Christian
families live behind hospital.
7) At this time some minor family conflicts (eg.Purshottam Gurnani
family) are being given a deliberate communal color. False claims of
breaking Hindu idols are being thrown up. Hindu Manch has been
threatening the Christians with dire consequence if they don't stop
preaching and propagating. The allegation of 'commission' for conversion,
and hefty sums for adopting christianity are baseless here. In particular
Mr. Soni was attacked once, and he has lodged a criminal complaint for
that. Around him many people (but a handful) have taken to Christianity.
Mr. Malani's ire is against Mr. Soni and also against Tabor ashram, he has
been bringing out provocative leaflets against Christianity.
8) The committee also talked to one journalist Mr. Ashok Boda (Editor
of Ulhas Vikas) who felt that a bogey of conversions is being created
especially by RSS/BJP people as elections are approaching and they want to
consolidate the 'Hindu Vote Bank' by showing the threat of increase in
number of Christians. Mr Alex D' Silva, the first Municipal councillor
from Christian community and president of Ulhasnagar Christian association
feels that they (RSS-BJP) want to distract the attentions from the real
issues. They have poor performance in municipality and civic amenities
are at their worst with increase in traffic jams, pollution and inadequate
water supply. He pointed out that these actions of RSS-BJP are making the
minorities feel very insecure.

Conclusions : The present disinformation campaign initiated by RSS-BJP is
baseless. The propaganda that forced conversions are going on is ill
founded. There have been few conversions during last few years, but there
overall number is neither significant nor have they been achieved through
force. The exaggerated picture of conversions, and that too by projecting
them as being resorted to by force, is a supplement to the nationwide anti
Christian propoganda by Sangh Parivar and has been 'well timed' with the
nationwide anti Christian campaign. It also serves a local purpose of
consolidating the local vote bank for RSS-BJP and helps in distracting
peoples attention from the basic problems of Ulhasnagar civic life i.e.
that of transport, pollution, water supply etc.

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