50,000 Indian tribals, "misled" into practicing Christianity, convert back to Hinduism

hindustantimes.com ^ | Indore, January 24 2002 | PTI

[AM2000]

50,000 tribals embrace Hinduism in Jhabua

As a fall out to the congregation of the Hindu Sangam in Jhabua, nearly 50,000 tribals had embraced Hinduism in the last few days, Sangam spokesman Mahesh Sharma claimed here on Thursday.

Talking to reporters, Sharma said "nearly 50,000 tribals again embraced Hinduism in Jhabua after the successful congregation of the Hindu Sangam on January 17".

He alleged that Christian missionaries, active in the area, had "misled them about their God and the innocent tribals believed them and started practising Christianity".

He said the resolution, passed at the Hindu Sangam requesting the government to check "illegal religious conversion" will be submitted to President KR Narayanan to make him aware of conversion activities in the region.

Sharma alleged that "in the name of religion the Christian missionaries were engaged in religious conversion coercively and had constructed illegal churches in each and every village, without permission".

[AM2000]

This doesn't sound right. How do you "mislead" people into becoming Christians? And if that is possible, it is also possible that the Hindu right-wing is misleading these tribals into believing they were misled.....

[silmaril]

Sounds to me like BJP pressure.

[LADYAK]

Is this India?

[silmaril]

Yes ma'am, it is India.

[OBAFGKM]

"How do you "mislead" people into becoming Christians?"

You tell them they're gonna burn in Hell if they don't (audio-visual aids showing flames and demons helpful at this point), and promise them that God will reward them with Western riches if they do (procede to distribute food and trinkets).