Hindu Nationalists Attack Christian Convention in India

A two-day Christian spiritual convention organized at a private hotel in Ratlam town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh was disrupted by Hindu nationalist groups on May 27 over allegations of forced conversions.

Members of the event’s organizing committee claimed they had notified authorities about the two-day conference beforehand. Despite the notification, the police, under pressure from protesters who arrived in large numbers to disrupt the conference, detained 15 members of the organizing committee, citing a lack of required permissions for the event. They were later released.

Organizers Response

The organizers, United Christian Council and Ratlam Pastors Fellowship, claimed that women and children were terrorized by the sudden commotion created by the fanatics.

Binoy Kuriakose, district secretary of the United Christian Council, Ratlam, categorically refuted all allegations of forced conversions. Kuriakose told local media that the conference was organized to promote spiritual enrichment and religious discourse.

He further explained that, in light of the prevailing circumstances, a registration fee was made mandatory for all conference attendees. During the registration process, participants were also explicitly required to provide a written declaration stating that they were attending the event of their own free will.

The Escalation

Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, a militant wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), barged into the venue, accusing the organizers of inviting members of the Hindu community for illicit religious conversions.

Banners and invitation cards associated with the event clearly stated that the conference was intended exclusively for Christian believers. The attackers raised objections regarding this very point, alleging that if the event was designated for a specific, limited group, how could a large number of people from other communities be present inside the venue?

Heated arguments broke out between the Christian attendees and Hindu nationalists.

While Hindu activists began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa (a Hindu prayer) inside the auditorium, the participants there countered with their own slogans. They invoked national figures such as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (the architect of the Indian constitution) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ultimately, the police diffused the situation and canceled the second day of the program to prevent further unrest.

This article was originally published on https://persecution.org/2026/06/01/hindu-nationalists-attack-christian-convention-in-india/