10/14/2024 India (International Christian Concern) — Christians in Chhattisgarh formed an 80-mile-long human chain to protest inaction against a member of the legislative assembly who made derogatory remarks about Jesus and conversions to Christianity in a public speech.
When a video of the speech made by Raimunia Bhagat went viral on social media, several Christians filed complaints in various police stations seeking action against her.
In their complaints, Christians alleged that Bhagat’s derogatory remarks, which were made in a local dialect during a public speech, were meant to inflame passions and instigate riots between Hindus and Christians.
Members of the human chain, which demanded Bhagat’s arrest in the Jashpur district in Northern Chhattisgarh, gathered under the banner of Christian Adivasi Mahasabha.
“There is immense resentment among the Christian community due to Bhagat’s remarks,” said Anil Kumar Kispotta, president of the Christian Adivasi Mahasabha. “Despite this, the police have not taken any action. We staged a peaceful protest now, but if no action is taken, we will intensify our protests with road blockades.”
Meanwhile, Arun Pannalal, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum and founder of the Sarv Adi Dal, a Christian political party, said that Bhagat’s membership in the legislative assembly must be terminated as her remarks violate her public oath to protect India’s Constitution. Pannalal said his party has written a letter to the governor regarding this.
According to Pannalal, the tribal society believes that the tribal Sarna is a religion-less society and that Bhagat has stated that she is a Hindu tribal. However, many tribal organizations have also declared that indigenous people do not belong to the Hindu religion. Even the Supreme Court has stated that tribal people are a religion-less society. Therefore, he said Bhagat’s statement goes against the Constitution and violates the Supreme Court’s order.
In response to the media, Bhagat said that her speech was to raise awareness among people of what was happening and claimed that conversions had been carried out through forgery.
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