Hindu Leader Decries Conversions

A leader of India’s main conservative Hindu organization says there is an international plan to convert Hindus to Christianity, and he wants to put a curb on conversions.

“There is a well-orchestrated program of international Christian bodies to spread Christianity in Asia and parts of Africa,” K. Sudarshan, joint general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, told reporters Thursday during the group’s convention.

The organization, the ideological parent of India’s ruling national Bharatiya Janata Party, has been blamed for instigating a series of recent attacks on Christians and their churches and chapels. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other Hindu groups have denied involvement in the attacks and accused the Christians of using bribery to force conversion of India’s poor to Christianity.

“There should be appropriate curbs on religious conversions,” Sudarshan said.

He added that reconversions were going on as well, Reuters reported. “It was encouraging to find that our efforts had borne fruits and Christians in many parts of India had already shown their inclination to return to their roots,” he said.

Christians make up between 2% and 3% of India’s 950 million people, but Sudarshan said international mission organizations have made the country a prime target.