Acting on news reports about the conversion of some Sikh families to Christianity in Bhilai, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) vice-chairperson Tarlochan Singh has written to Christian leaders "to desist from this activity to avoid tension between the two minority communities".
Mr Singh's letter, written to H.G.Geevarghese Marcoorilos, president of the National Council of Churches, and Bishop Vincent M. Concessao, president of the Catholic bishops' Council of India, says, "Conversion is a serious issue with all communities and there has been tension between various communities in the recent past because of this. We do not want the two minority communities, Sikhs and Christians, now to try to make efforts to denounce each other to get more numerical strength through conversion."
Citing recent incidents in Punjab and Bhilai where "Christian missionaries fully supported with medical teams have been going around many villages alluring poor Sikhs to adopt Christianity", Mr Singh said, "The Indian Constitution allows freedom of expression and we all should adhere to this principle."
However, Fr Henry D'Souza. convener of the media cell of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, denied any conversion by force. "We are all for communal amity V Singh should come up with more facts " said.
Fr D'Souza said, "Any conversion by force and allurement is a contradiction in itself. We believe that all religions influence each other. Conversion should always be out of personal choice."
In his letter, Mr Singh said he
had been approached by a large number of Sikh organisations to take up
this matter. "I request you to please examine all these cases and adopt
a policy not to make further attempts at converting Sikhs through any means,"
Mr Singh asked the Christian leaders.