Orissa's Mayurbhanj district, home to late Australian missionary Graham Staines, is witnessing another proselytisation drive. Close on the heels of last month's reconversion ceremony at Sarat where 75 Christians were brought back into the Hindu fold, a second ceremony will be held on October 20 at Bhajakia in the same district. While at Sarat, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised an atmasudhi yagna, a Hindu Jagaran Dharma Sabha is being planned at Bhanjakia.
Six members of one Christian family have already agreed to change their religion. Efforts are on to reconvert more Christians at this Dharma Sabha. VHP state secretary Gouri Prasad Rath, however, told Hindustan Times that his organisation has nothing to do with the forthcoming reconversion ceremony.
It is not clear, however, whether legal requirements under the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act to change religion are being fulfilled. Paranaranjan Parichha, president of the Orissa chapter of the All India Christian Council, told the Hindustan Times, "The authorities are not applying the OFRA provisions equally.”