Christians seek ouster of Indian lawmaker for anti-Jesus remarks
Chhattisgarh state assembly member, Raimuni Bhagat, is accused of trying to create a rift between tribal people
Updated: October 07, 2024 09:39 AM GMT
Christians have sought the disqualification of a lawmaker who allegedly insulted Christ to create a rift between tribal people in a central Indian state where a harsher anti-conversion law will soon come into force.
During a public meeting last month, Raimuni Bhagat, who represents the Jashpur constituency in the Chhattisgarh state assembly, caused outrage when she asked the gathering how they could expect Jesus to solve their problems if he could not remove the nails from his cross.
“We condemn the objectionable statement by Raimuni Bhagat,” Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh’s Christian Forum, told UCA News on Oct. 6.
Pannalal said the forum handed a petition to the Jashpur district collector on Oct. 5, calling on Governor Remen Deka to eject Bhagat from the assembly in Chhattisgarh, ruled by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Mod of which Bhagat is a member.
Pannalal said Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai’s failure to condemn Bhagat shows that she enjoys the patronage of the state government which is accused of dividing tribal people in the name of religion.
Her statement was a “planned move to create unrest,” in the state, Pannalal added.
On Oct. 3, 11 Christian organizations came together to form a 130-kilometer human chain in the state to seek disqualification of Bhagat for the controversial statement she uttered on Sept. 1.
“Christ was nailed to the cross…he couldn’t remove the nails. How do you expect Christ will remove your problems?” Bhagat told the public meeting.
She also accused Christian missionaries of conducting illegal religious conversions in the state.
After her jibe went viral on social media, complaints were lodged at police stations on Sept. 10. However, no action has been initiated, Pannalal said.
We will soon approach the Indian President and the Supreme Court, “if there is no action taken against Bhagat soon,” by the governor, the constitutional head in the state, he added.
In the petition, the forum alleged Bhagat’s controversial remarks had disrupted communal harmony in the state.
The remarks were against the spirit of the constitution, Pannalal noted.
Christians in Chhattisgarh make up less than 2 percent of its 30 million people and indigenous people account for 30 percent. India’s constitution lists tribal people as Hindus, a practice started by colonial Britain.
On March 1, the right-wing state government proposed a new anti-conversion bill with provisions for harsher punishments.
According to the bill, religious conversion through abuse of power, coercion, undue influence, incitement, fraudulent means, or through marriage would be considered illegal.
Conversion through allurement is a punishable offense under the existing Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2003.
The New Delhi-based United Christian Forum (UCF), an ecumenical body that records Christian persecution across the country, recorded 148 incidents of violence against Christians in Chhattisgarh in 2023.
The state holds the dubious record of being top among 28 Indian states regarding anti-Christian violence, according to the UCF.
The state witnessed a severe economic and social boycott of Christians in December 2022 when tribal Christians alleged that they were pressured to leave their religion.
Those Christians who refused to comply with the order of tribal Hindu groups, backed by the ruling party, were beaten up, their homes vandalized, and their crops destroyed.
According to a fact-finding team’s report, thousands of Christians were forced to flee their homes in Kondgaon and Narayanpur districts and seek shelter in neighboring districts.
Christian rights activist, Sunil Minj, said Bhagat was trying to create a rift between tribal Hindus and tribal Christians “which is dangerous.”
Minj said Bhagat’s allegations of religious conversion were baseless.
