Hindu nationalists disrupt three-day Gospel event in India

Hindu nationalists have reportedly prevented Christians in India's Chhattisgarh state from holding a three-day Gospel meeting just minutes before the event was about to begin.

Pastors were reportedly beaten minutes before the start of the meeting that was attended by about 1,000 people at the Railway Grounds in Charoda, Durg District on Nov. 16.

"Pastor Vijay Jogi and Pastor Santosh Rao were receiving the people at the entrance," Pastor Amos James told Morning Star News.

"Suddenly a mob of 70 Hindu Dharm Sena and Bajrang Dal activists gheraoed [encircled] the entrance, and Pastor Jogi and Pastor Rao were beaten and summoned to the police station," he added.

Another pastor recounted that the hardline Hindus were shouting, "Jai Sri Ram, Jai Sri Ram [Hail lord Ram]."

"The activists slapped Pastor Santosh Rao thrice and beat us both. By then we understood that these people will not let us conduct prayers," Pastor Jogi said.

Jogi said that he received a call from the Government Railway Police at around 6 p.m., minutes before the opening prayer, asking him to call off the event and come to the police station immediately.

He said that in the past 20 years, church leaders have been able to obtain prior permission from both the railway and railway police to hold the event, but Hindu nationalists have claimed that the organizers also needed permission from the sub-judicial magistrate.

When the pastors went to the police station, the authorities reportedly warned them that the activists are already dismantling the stage and other facilities at the venue for the gospel meetings.

"The police officer told us even if he lodged a case [against the extremists], it would go strongly against us, and that even he can't help it. The police did not register an FIR," Jogi said.

Pastor Rao, who had been accused of forcible conversions in 2012, said that they were forced to sign a letter of apology prepared by the activists under the supervision of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Rajguru Ghosale.

"The letter said by conducting this meeting we hurt the feelings of Hindus, we sincerely apologize for it and cancelling the event. They slapped me to sign it," Rao said.

Attorney Son Singh Jhali told the Christian leaders that they could take action against the Hindu nationalists as well as the police, but the pastors declined.

Jogi said that they will conduct the meetings again in May with permissions from the proper authorities.

Hindu extremists have also been working to stop Christian worship services in other Indian states.

In November, officials and police in Tamil Nadu state were compelled by Hindu extremists to issue orders to discontinue worship gatherings in 10 churches unless they obtain permission from the collector's office. Church leaders warned at the time that the extremists were also planning to stop services in 20 other churches.

Due to the increasing attacks against Christians in India, Open Doors has ranked the country as in 2017 World Watch List as the 15th worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.