Sunday, February 20, 2005

Conversion charges: probe ordered against Christian mission

Jaipur, Feb 19 : Rajasthan government today ordered an inquiry into the allegation that a Christian mission brought 250 children to Kota from outside the state for converting them to Christianity, an official spokesman said here today.
Ordering the inquiry into the case, Social Welfare Minister Madan Dilawar has rushed a team of four senior officials to Kota to hold a detailed probe, the spokesman said.
The minister ordered the inquiry after receiving reports that local people were protesting against bringing of the children, described as orphans, by Immanual Mission, allegedly promising them Rs 250 each and food, he said.
The officials of social welfare department would start inquiry into the matter from tomorrow itself despite being a Sunday, he added.
The children were brought to Kota by train this morning by the mission people, the Spokesman said.
The government would take action after receiving report of the team of officials, he said.
Dilawar, in a statement, said the "government would not tolerate any effort of religious conversion by allurement or force and will not hesitate in taking stern action against guilty persons".
Doubting credentials of the mission he alleged that several cases were still pending in various police stations in Kota against Immanual mission including a case of encroaching upon forest land falsely showing it as burial ground.