Hindu extremists oppose construction of Catholic hospital, school in northwest India

A group of Hindu extremists attempted to prevent the construction of a Catholic hospital and school in the Jalana village in Dungarpur district, Rajasthan state. The group claimed that the Christian missionaries would use the centers to convert tribal people.

UCA News reported Rajasthan state passed an anti-conversion law Sept. 9. A few days later, the Bajrang Dal (Brigade of Lord Hanuman) came to a center run by the Church in the Jalana village Sept. 14, according to Udaipur diocesan officials. The brigade allegedly threatened the Church to stop all progress on the school and hospital, or it would face consequences.

According to the diocesan officials, the group used abusive language and accused the members of attempting illegal religious conversions. The church members called the police, who dispersed the brigade.

Father Siby Thomas, parish priest of Jalana, told UCA News, “I have been working in Jalana for 15 years and this is the first time we have come under pressure based on false allegations.”

He added that the church center in Jalana hosts seminars, meetings, and prayer services, which are sometimes interfaith but do not include conversions to the faith. 

Father Basil Makwana, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, told UCA News, “Just like the government, right-wing groups like Bajrang Dal are now encouraged to take laws into their hands in the name of curbing religious conversion. We suspect some political parties are behind this group.”

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