4-day event to be held by Christian leaders in Tapi faces objection

The event between November 14 and November 17 is set to be held by churches in Patharda and its neighbouring Ghoda village in Songadh taluka. Invitations have been sent out to Tapi, Surat, Valsad, Dangs, Narmada and Bharuch, among other areas, as per people in the know.

Weeks before the Christian community is scheduled to hold a four-day religious gathering in Tapi, the Dev Birsa Sena on Tuesday raised an objection against the event in a memorandum submitted to Additional Collector RR Borad. The outfit claimed the gathering will see religious conversion of tribals. The organisers have refuted such claims.

The event between November 14 and November 17 is set to be held by churches in Patharda and its neighbouring Ghoda village in Songadh taluka. Invitations have been sent out to Tapi, Surat, Valsad, Dangs, Narmada and Bharuch, among other areas, as per people in the know.

In its memorandum, tribal outfit Dev Birsa Sena stated, “A majority of the residents of Tapi district are tribals and those who had been converted to Christianity are not found on the government records. If there are no Christian tribals (as per the government records), than why such a religious event of Christian has been organised in Patharda and Ghoda villages?…We have come to know many innocent tribals following Hinduism or worship Nature God are likely to be converted to Christianity by luring them with different benefits.”
Jignesh Gamit, Dev Birsa Sena secretary of Tapi district, said, “Our issue is that those tribals who had converted into Christianity should officially show themselves as Christians on government records. If they are not Christians, then why is such an event being organised?”

Meanwhile, event organising committee member Ashok Gamit said, “We regularly organise such events in November every year. The motive is to bring all members of our community together at one place. Religious preachers from different parts of the country will come and deliver their preachings to the public. We are not forcing anybody to come but if they willingly come, we will not stop them. No religious conversion will happen. We will seek police permission for the event.”

This article was originally published on https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/4-day-event-to-be-held-by-christian-leaders-in-tapi-faces-objection-9635674/