Disruption of Easter Prayer Service in Ahmedabad By Hindu Nationalist Groups

On Sunday, an Easter prayer service in Ahmedabad, India, was interrupted by members of two extremist Hindu organizations, Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad. The activists entered the private gathering in the Odhav area brandishing sticks and chanting slogans like “Jai Shree Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev”. This act reflects the adherents' connection to Hindutva, an aggressive nationalist ideology that advocates for Hindu supremacy, and their ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a foundational part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These groups have a history of opposing religious conversions, particularly targeting Christian and Muslim communities.

Witnesses noted that the incident unfolded at a Christian congregation marking Easter Sunday, which included about 100 attendees, primarily women. The activists confronted the congregation, questioning their faith and making allegations of unlawful religious conversions from Hinduism to Christianity. Police intervention eventually quelled the disruption, and both sides were taken to a nearby police station to file complaints. Local police inspector Pratik Zinzuvadia reported that an initial investigation yielded no signs of conversion activities.

A member of the Christian community present during the gathering, Emanuel Amaydas, lodged a counter-complaint against the intruders for their aggressive behavior. As police began to look into the allegations, they stated that no formal charges had been issued. Jwalit Mehta, a regional figure from Bajrang Dal, justified the group's actions by claiming they had received tips about conversion activities in both the Odhav and Nikol neighborhoods. It is worth noting that while forced religious conversions are considered illegal in many parts of India, the definitions of such laws are often unclear and have been criticized for disproportionately targeting minority groups. Data from the United Christian Forum highlights a troubling trend, revealing that incidents of violence against Christians rose from 734 to 834 between the years 2023 and 2024.