Chattisgarh church attack

A church in the central Indian state was attacked by a mob of up to 2,000 people that included a local BJP leader

A church in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh was attacked by a mob of up to 2,000 people that included a local BJP leader, further illustrating the institutionalisation of fascist Hindutva ideology in the country’s biggest political party. News reports identified the BJP leader as the party’s district president and the man leading anti-Christian agitation in the area as part of the broader ‘ghar wapsi movement’, under which Christians and Muslims are allegedly coerced into converting to Hinduism.

Although Chattisgarh is run by the Congress party, ghar wapsi operations have been provided explicit government support in several states, despite this violating the country’s constitutional protection of freedom of religion. The church was one of several locations in the rural district that were attacked by a mob that developed out of an ‘anti-conversion’ public meeting. Although local police did attempt to intervene and stop the Monday church attack, they were also attacked by the mob, and a superintendent of police was reportedly “severely injured”, again illustrating the brazen confidence of Hindutva groups. Despite arrests having been made, the area remains tense. And even though the police said the BJP did not appear to be directly involved in the attack, other local BJP leaders, including former state ministers, have been pinning blame for the incident on Christians — several people in the area reportedly converted to the Christian faith in recent months.

Conversion in India is perfectly legal if no coercion was involved, and it appears the cases ‘identified’ by the BJP leaders were all above board — the only coercion involved was threats from Hindutva groups. In fact, people from at least 14 villages in the same district as the church have been protesting over the government’s failure to protect them from being assaulted and evicted from their homes simply for being practising Christians. But as always, those responsible for infecting the minds of the mob will continue to enjoy freedom.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2023.

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