A charity originally started by the late Mother Teresa is under investigation for “forced conversions” in the western state of Gujarat, India. The Missionaries of Charity, founded in 1950 by Mother Teresa, are facing allegations from the government that they forced girls in their shelter home to read the Bible and wear crosses.
The police complaint in Vadodara, Gujarat, relied on allegations by child welfare authorities and other officials. It states that 13 Bibles were found at the facility and that girls staying there had been made to read them.
These allegations against the Christian-run charity are being cited as part of increasing scrutiny against religious minorities by India’s Hindu nationalist government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Such accusations of “forced conversions” are describing as “discriminatory” against minority groups.
This latest investigation, taking place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, comes at a moment of rising communal tensions as Hindu majoritarian sentiment has been increasing under the BJP government. Incidents of violence and discrimination have targeted religious minorities – particularly Muslims and Christians – and other marginalised groups in society.
Last week, a mob of hundreds forced its way into a Christian school in Madhya Pradesh during students’ exams. The mob went on to throw stones at the building, and the students narrowly escaped.
305 incidents of attacks on Christians have been reported during the first nine months of 2021. Christians make up 2.3 percent of India’s population of 1.3 billion people.
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