Kamal Nath, Prime Minister of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, a big state in central India, has assured Christian leaders that he will cancel the accusations of alleged “fraudulent conversions” initiated against Christians in the state. As Agenzia Fides learns, the government of Madhya Pradesh, led by the Congress Party, has declared that it will withdraw the “politically motivated” cases filed during the previous Hindu nationalist government of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

“We will review the cases of false accusations of conversion against Christians,” said the minister of justice, P.C. Sharma. BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said the government’s move “will encourage Christian missionaries to engage in forced conversions,” announcing his party’s opposition.

On January 18, Fr Muttungal, former spokesman for the regional episcopal Conference of Madhya Pradesh, met Minister Sharma, highlighting the matter and the minister reassured him.