Hindu right-wing groups in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district have escalated their campaign against Christians, with two tribal villages—Kudal and Junwani—banning the entry of pastors and priests. On August 5, the Sanatan Samaj organized a protest in Bhanupratappur, leading to a complete shutdown of local businesses. Demonstrators submitted an 11-point memorandum demanding government action to curb Christian religious activities, effectively challenging constitutional rights to religious freedom and movement.
Village councils in Kudal and Junwani passed resolutions prohibiting Christian from entering. Warning signs posted at village borders cite the Fifth Schedule and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, as justification for the ban. Local leader Rajendra Komra accused Christian pastors of persuading tribal villagers to convert, claiming they exploit the simplicity of rural communities. These restrictions, however, violate constitutional guarantees of religious expression and mobility. Media reports indicate that 18 families in these villages had embraced Christianity in recent years, though five later reverted under community pressure.
Allegations suggest conversions were encouraged through access to education, healthcare, and financial aid—yet no evidence was presented to support these claims.
During the protest, speakers made sweeping accusations against Christian missionaries, alleging foreign funding was being used to promote conversions through social services. Municipal council president Nikhil Singh Rathore called religious conversion a “sensitive issue,” urging Hindu unity. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced plans to strengthen the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, following consultations across 52 meetings. This move signals potential legal tightening amid growing hostility toward Christian communities, who are already facing systemic exclusion and threats to their constitutional rights.
