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Uttar Pradesh: Conversions to Christianity in Awadh using Madhesi conversion model from Nepal, Ayodhya and nearby districts affected

As per the reports, the Union Home Ministry was sent a report by security agencies highlighting concerns over evolving missionary methods in which suspicious activities of a prominent Lucknow-based publishing house were also flagged.

In a matter of concern in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Christian missionaries in the Awadh region are making efforts to promote religious conversions and influence voting patterns by adopting the Madhesi conversion model from Nepal.

The said strategy, which has unfortunately proved effective in Madhesh, Nepal, in the past, is being implemented in the state of UP. As per the exclusive report by Amar Ujala, districts like Sitapur, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti, Sultanpur, and Ambedkar Nagar are witnessing escalated missionary activity, with Balrampur, Shravasti, and Bahraich experiencing significant impacts due to forceful conversion.

As per the reports, the Union Home Ministry was sent a report by security agencies highlighting concerns over evolving missionary methods in which suspicious activities of a prominent Lucknow-based publishing house were also flagged.

Notably, the responsibility for religious conversions is believed to have been assigned to Korean pastors, who are linked to networks in Bangalore, Punjab’s Jalandhar, and Kerala. The security agencies suspect that these efforts of the missionaries are funded by donations from Brazil, the United States, and South Korea.

“The primary targets for conversion include economically disadvantaged and marginalized groups such as Dalits, the Tharu tribe along the border, and the Rai Sikh community, who have featured prominently in recent conversion cases in the region,” the security agencies said in the report.

The concerns are further being raised as the agencies highlight that the appeal of alleged miraculous healing are playing a significant role in conversions. A resident of Sitapur converted to Christianity two years ago. He credited the Bible and claimed that the book transformed his life, improving his financial situation, and enhancing his health. In another similar instance, Suresh from the Ayodhya area attributed his conversion to these perceived blessings from miraculous healing.

Missionaries ask people to change religion, not names

It is crucial to note that one of the pastors identified as Pastor Danville, who was arrested in Sitapur on charges of religious conversion, revealed the strategy behind conversions. He claimed that their focus remains on ‘changing hearts’ rather than formal religious conversions. He explained that their followers continue to identify as Hindus on official documents and do not change their names after conversion.

“This approach allows them to remain integrated within their communities while gradually becoming devotees of Jesus Christ. By avoiding formal declarations of conversion, they evade potential legal consequences,” he said.

While men in converted families typically retain their usual clothing style, noticeable changes are observed among women. They abandon usage of vermilion, bangles, and bindis which Hindu women usually use.

Exposing the reality behind miracles

The security agencies stated that during the miraculous healing gatherings, the missionaries make use of powerful antibiotics and steroids to treat patients, leading to rapid recovery. “This is often celebrated as a miraculous intervention attributed to Christianity,” the report says. However, while these medicines provide immediate relief, they have significant side effects, including cataracts, glaucoma, weakened immunity, muscle deterioration, and bone diseases.

The Madhesh model of missionary conversion

In 1951, Nepal had no Christian population. However, by 1961, the number rose to 458, reaching 3.76 lakh in 2011 and, according to recent estimates, the Christian population today there is 6.45 lakhs. The National Christian Community Survey indicates there are 7,859 churches in the Hindu-majority nation, with most located in the Madhesh region bordering India.

It is believed that the Korean pastors have played a key role there, focusing on economically and spiritually disadvantaged Dalit communities and tribes. The Korean World Mission Association reports that 565 Korean missionary families are currently active in Nepal, particularly in the southern regions outside Kathmandu.

Dr. Uday, an expert in foreign affairs, suggests that the growth of Christian missionary activity has enabled the United States to establish a stronger presence in Nepal, a situation that also raises concerns for China.

Religious conversions have also intensified a crisis of cultural identity in Nepal, posing a significant threat to national unity. According to former Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, missionaries are exploiting backward communities by encouraging them to adopt Christianity under the guise of religious freedom. “This is not about faith but about manipulation and exploitation,” Yadav says.

Although Christians remain a minority in Nepal, missionaries are pursuing long-term strategies aimed at Dalit, minority, and backward communities.

Notably, it is speculated that the same model is being adopted by the missionaries in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Vikram Singh, former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, warns that this gradual approach calls for vigilance to protect societal and cultural cohesion.

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