Christians in India’s northwestern Rajasthan state have come under increased pressure from Hindu militants since the recent passing of an ‘anti-conversion law’. Although the bill has yet to receive governor assent it has emboldened nationalist groups in their aggressive and sustained opposition to Christians, church leaders claim. ‘As if on cue, attacks on Christians have escalated dramatically following passage of Rajasthan’s anti-conversion bill, mirroring patterns we’ve witnessed in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Jharkhand after similar legislation,’ said the Rev Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI). The Rev. Lal told Morning Star News: ‘These laws consistently embolden vigilante groups who feel licensed to target Christian communities under the guise of preventing [forced or fraudulent] conversion.’
