BJP Leader Criticizes Forced Religious Conversions Amid Christmas Vandalism Incident

In a recent statement, Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia condemned the practice of forced religious conversions, asserting that while the Constitution allows for religious freedom, coercive practices should not be tolerated. His remarks followed an incident of vandalism at a school during Christmas celebrations. Saikia emphasized the importance of social service without ulterior motives and responded to concerns regarding the Bajrang Dal's activities. The Assam Christian Forum expressed gratitude for police action against the vandals but criticized Saikia's comments as potentially inflaming communal tensions. This situation highlights the delicate balance between religious freedom and community relations in Assam.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 28, 2025, 15:58 IST

BJP's Stance on Religious Freedom

Nalbari, Dec 28: The president of the Assam BJP, Dilip Saikia, has voiced strong opposition to the practice of forced religious conversions. He emphasized that while the Constitution allows individuals to practice and celebrate their faith freely, coercive conversion should never be tolerated.

Saikia made these comments during a press interaction following his attendance at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat program on Sunday. His remarks come in light of the reported vandalism of Christmas decorations at St Mary’s School in Nalbari on Christmas Eve.

“I have reiterated that the Indian Constitution protects the rights of all religions to celebrate their festivals. Every community should have the freedom to observe its religious events, and we fully support that,” Saikia stated.

However, he cautioned against exploiting individuals for religious conversion, particularly the conversion of Hindus to other faiths. “Social service should not be a guise for conversion,” he added.

“Assisting the underprivileged is commendable, but it must not be used as a means to convert individuals. I personally oppose such actions and encourage everyone to adhere to their own faith and cultural practices,” he remarked.

Responding to questions about the Bajrang Dal, Saikia affirmed that the organization operates in the interest of the nation. “Millions of Bajrang Dal members are dedicated to serving the country. If any group acts outside the law, legal measures will be taken. However, I believe Bajrang Dal operates within constitutional boundaries,” he explained.

On Saturday, the Assam Christian Forum (ACF) expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Assam Police for apprehending those responsible for the vandalism at the Nalbari school. Nonetheless, they expressed shock and concern over Saikia's comments.

In their statement, the ACF criticized Saikia for seemingly justifying the vandalism by suggesting ongoing provocations from the Christian community and making what they termed unfounded claims about targeted conversions of Hindus.

The forum warned that such statements could trivialize the seriousness of the vandalism and potentially escalate communal tensions, especially when unity is crucial.

They emphasized that linking criminal acts to broader religious issues could foster distrust and distract from the essential need for maintaining law, order, and communal harmony.