Ghar wapsi: After Asr, Patiala on Hindu outfit’s radar

Despite the ghar wapsi campaign launched by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other organisations drawing flak from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh bodies, the Dharam Jagran Manch (DJM) will conduct its core committee meeting in Patiala on January 4.

Despite the ghar wapsi campaign launched by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other organisations drawing flak from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh bodies, the Dharam Jagran Manch (DJM) will conduct its core committee meeting in Patiala on January 4.

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After carrying out reconversion of Christian families into the Sikh fold in Amritsar recently, the DJM, a wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is now eyeing Patiala for the ghar wapsi programme. The main agenda of the meeting is to chalk out a schedule for the reconversions in Patiala and neighbouring districts, mainly Fatehgarh Sahib.

Over the years, several families have settled in Samana (Patiala district) and Amloh (Fatehgarh Sahib) after adopting Christianity.

Puran Dhingra, incharge of the DJM’s Patiala mandal, said the organisation was spreading awareness about the reconversion campaigns. “The meeting of the core committee will take the final call on the dates and schedule in Patiala and its surrounding places. It will be attended by senior leaders of the Sangh, including Ram Gopal who is looking after the campaign at the state level,” Dhingra said.

Condemning the programme, Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi met Christians on December 29 in Samana. He said reconversion was against the rights of people and no organisation had the authority to launch such campaigns.

The Akal Takht has already refused to give approval to the ghar wapsi campaign.