The main Opposition Congress has come down heavily against describing as “Hindu Samajik Kumbh” the three-day congregation of Hindus beginning from Monday at Mandla with full backing of the RSS and support of the Madhya Pradesh government.
As the congregation is being organised on the banks of River Narmada, it is also being called Ma Narmada Samajik Kumbh.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Suresh Pachouri has written a letter to Union home minister P. Chidambaram and state governor Rameshwar Thakur to draw their attention to this event and raise the issue of religious conversions and the distribution of pamphlets and literature depicting Christians in poor light prior to the so-called Kumbh.
Mr Pachouri has pointed out that calling this event as “Kumbh” goes against the tenets and faith of the followers of Sanatan dharma as the Hindus observe Kumbh at only four places of religious importance and significance. These are Prayag (Allahabad), Hardwar, Ujjain and Nashik.
Mr Pachouri has said that inflammatory literature and pamphlets were being distributed projecting Christians in poor light prior to the controversial congregation.
It is feared that the distribution of such objectionable literature and pamphlets may trigger off another Kandhamal like situation in the tribal-dominated Mandla district, he has pointed out.
Mr Pachouri has also expressed the apprehension that declaration forms have been distributed among the tribals before the so-called Kumbh with the intention to convert them to Hinduism.
En-masse religious conversion during the three-day event would be against the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, he has stated.
He has requested the government of India to intervene.