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Orissa govt seeks details of conversions from churches

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

A state government circular that makes it mandatory for churches to furnish details of conversions carried out in the last five years has enraged the Christian community in Orissa.

Describing it as yet another conspiracy to trample the religious freedom of minorities, several churches and Christian organisations have said they would challenge the order in a court of law and also lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission.

"I feel the order is unconstitutional. The state government is trying to decide who will follow which religion,'' Rev. Samson Das of English Baptist Church, Cuttack said.

Rev. Pradeep Kumar Das argued that it would be impossible to furnish such data. He said conversions as per the Christian view are a matter of change of heart. "How can we put a number on that?"

Father Issac Puthenangady, secretary, Bishop's House, Balasore in his letter dated February 29, 2000 to the editors of local newspapers had expressed his unhappiness over a similar government order which made it compulsory for an individual to seek permission from the local police or the district magistrate before adopting a new religion.

"What is surprising is that the said order has been issued only to churches and not to any other religious heads," he said.

Christian leaders feel that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practice a religion of his/her choice and have warned that the community will contest the order in all the right fora.

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