Christian congregation disrupted

Tribune News Service

Ropar, March 23

Members of several Hindu religious and social bodies disrupted a changiai sabha organised by Christians last night, alleging that it was an attempt to convert poor Hindus into Chrisitans.

This led to heated arguments between the protesters and participants attending the sabha following which the police intervened and diffused the situation.

The organisers, however, preferred to cancel the programme and took away their tents and sound system.

It was around 9.30 p.m. when preachers started delivering a sermon at the programme organized on Gandhi School road near Bela chowk.

Soon, the members of Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Jain Sabha, Aggarwal Sabha reached the spot and raised objections. They alleged that the preacher was alluring the poor people to adopt Christianity my misleading them that such a step would cure their ailments and end all miseries.

District coordinator of Bajrang Dal, Vivek Chhatwal, said that they would not allow such programmes to be held in here where Hindus would be converted to other religions.

Station House Officer (SHO) Mahesh Kumar said that the police had only asked the organizers to remove the sound system installed without permission of the authorities. Instead, the organisers cancelled the event, he said.