A complaint was lodged against pastors who threatened and intimidated chenchus for not agreeing to carry out Christian propaganda in their village. All the people of Chenchu Colony in Balijepalligudem village in Dornala Mandal of Prakasam district live according to Hindu traditions. Recently some church pastors came to Chenchu Colony to convert Chenchus into Christian religion. The tribesmen of the Chenchu tribe there invited the pastors in their traditional manner and welcomed them with sindhur. Once again they were gently warned not to come to do such things that would drain their cultural traditions. The incident took place on July 28th and the video of the incident went viral on social media.
Congratulations are pouring in from all over the country for the Chenchu tribe’s attitude towards pastors. The SC, ST Rights Forum was elated. However, some pastors who could not digest the incident came in large numbers from Vijayawada and East Godavari on August 4th to the same colony. They issued threats to Chenchus and they sung Christian songs there without the villager’s permission. Along with these actions, a Christian organization called CGTI Ministries posted a video on its YouTube with a stern warning that “we believe in Jesus otherwise no one will be left here.”
Filed petition with National Scheduled Tribes Commission @ncsthq against Christian evangelists made repeat visit to forest dwelling Chenchu tribal settlement, gave out veiled threat. They provocatively sing songs, conduct prayers. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/wIUemxKpym
— SC ST RIGHTS FORUM (@SCSTForum) August 10, 2021
The SC, ST Rights Forum has lodged a complaint with the President of the National Scheduled Tribes Commission over the incident, which sought to convert innocent tribals by terrorizing them. It has demanded that strict action be ordered against pastors who commit atrocities against innocent tribes and did the attempt to drain tribal culture and traditions .
Joshua Project is Part of the International Conspiracy : Andhra Pradesh State SC, ST Rights Welfare Forum SC, ST Hakkula sankshema Vedika (SC, ST Rights Welfare Forum)
The Andhra Pradesh State SC / ST Rights Welfare Forum was incensed over the incident. The general secretary of the forum Garikimukku Subbaiah strongly condemned the misconduct of pastors and claimed that The conversion conspiracy had taken place by Pastor Vijay belongs to CGTI Ministries, a Christian organization in Ravulapalem, East Godavari district, and Peter Putta of “Freedom for Christian Integration” organisation in Vijayawada, along with several other pastors. He said that the Constitution gives everyone in this country the right to preserve their cultural traditions and the SC, ST Rights Welfare Forum appreciates the Chenchus for their attempt to resist the The misdeeds of pastors.
He said it was also part of an international conspiracy to convert backward tribes and communities in India under the name ‘Joshua Project’.
And Sri Subbaiah demanded that action be taken against those responsible for the violent coversions and said that It is noteworthy that the local police do not care about this matter, Threatening to kill innocent tribal people. To take action against those who disturb the peace by making hate speeches that provoke the people and He also called for the protection of innocent Chenchu people who are being harassed by pastors.
