Hindu groups have launched their reconversion move-ment targeting Christians in India’s Andhra Pradesh state, which church leaders say is a troubling move aimed at political gain.

Hindu seers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders conducted massive prayers and rituals on October 20 at the popular Hindu temple in Srisailam town of Kurnool district in the southern state.

They later visited areas of socially poor Dalit and tribal people and made some 500 poor Christians take an oath to follow Hinduism, local reports said.

“It is a warning sign for all of us here as well as in other southern Indian states,” said Father Anthoniraj Thumma, who heads the Federation of Telugu Churches.

The reconversion movement started some three decades ago in central India, said Father Thumma, whose federation also covers neighbouring Telangana State.