Christian leader held in Madhya Pradesh under Anti-Conversion Law

From our correspondent

 

Jabalpur: In a shocking development, a senior Christian leader, along with three of his staff members, has been arrested under the Anti-Conversion Law in Madhya Pradesh

 

The Christian leader Mr. Sudhir Xavier, the Regional Manager of Indian Every Home Crusade for Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, was held for his alleged conversion activities on 7 June 2007. His office in Jabalpur was also sealed and several files confiscated. All the four men were released on bail the same day.

 

The complaint under section 3 and 4 of the Anti Conversion Law was filed by one Dr Sudheer Agarwal of Dharam Jagran Sena, an ally of Viswa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The said sections deal with forceful and fraudulent conversions by means of allurement, threat and coercion.

 

Surprisingly neither Mr. Sudhir Xavier nor his staff members were involved in any conversion activities. The only "proof" that the complainant had produced before the police was the copies of the field reports and a 'donor thank you' letter sent by Rev Sudheer.

 

"This is an interesting twist and nothing but a misinterpretation of the law by the police authorities," said Albert Lael, Organizing Secretary of All India Christian Council. The field reports intercepted was meant only for internal circulation. The complainant should be prosecuted for procuring the internal documents through fraudulent means, he said.

 

While condemning the incident, Albert Lael said, "The law does not prevent conversions as a whole. It only prevents forceful and fraudulent conversions. There are genuine conversions all over the country and people from the so-called untouchables want to break themselves free and embrace egalitarian faiths in which they are treated equally and with human dignity."