All Saints' Church, Srinagar - the Rev Khanna's church at the centre of the storm
(Photo: © CMS)The Rev Chandra Mani Khanna arrested on charges of 'forced conversion' after YouTube video sparks controversy
A priest of the Church of North India is in police custody and feels his life is in danger after a video was posted on YouTube showing him baptising Kashmiri seekers.
The Rev Chandra Mani Khanna, presbyter-in-charge of All Saints’ Church, Srinagar was placed under house arrest at the weekend, after he appeared voluntarily at a local Shariat court in an effort to clear up the controversy.
He is accused of converting young Muslims to Christianity. Under the law of Jammu & Kashmir he is charged with "deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of the people to disturb peace".
Speaking up: Bishop PK Samantaroy of Amritsar
(Photo: © CMS)
The Bishop of Amritsar Diocese, which includes Jammu & Kashmir, the Rt Rev PK Samantaroy, has appealed for international pressure on the state government, convinced that the authorities are acting in a discriminatory way.
"The whole Christian community is hurt because Christian work in the state of Kashmir has been carried out with utmost commitment for the benefit of the majority Muslim population," he said.
The Rev Khanna strongly denies giving any inducements to the Kashmiri believers to convert to Christianity. "Since one year [they] were coming to the church regularly," he said, in a statement issued through Bishop Samantaroy.
"I never went to any village nor any one's house nor given any literature to motivate for Christian faith. But these Kashmiri wanted to participate in the holy communion like rest of the Christians.
"But I explain you are not allowed without having the ritual to undergo water baptism. They insisted me to baptize them. As I am in my priestly office [I] cannot deny to give them this right," said the Rev Khanna.
The baptisms actually took place in July and August, but it appears that it was the posting of a video of one of the baptisms that started the chain of events leading to the Rev Khanna's arrest.
"Recently, somebody released a video clip of the baptism ceremony on the YouTube which caused widespread unrest internationally, and especially in the Muslim world," explained Bishop Samantaroy. This led to a summons from the Shariat court.
" Though the Shariat Court has no legal validity, the Rev Khanna decided to appear before them to solve the crisis in an amicable way," said Bishop Samantaroy.
" The Church has always served the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the areas of education and health care irrespective of caste, creed or religion and has made contribution to the building up of the Kashmiris," he added.
The bishop appealed to international partners to do what they could in prayerful support.
"I feel that the Church has to now raise its voice of protest against such discriminatory action of the Jammu & Kashmir administration. Support should be mobilised to exert pressure on the State and Central Governments to release Rev Khanna immediately.
"Further, Rev Khanna feels his life is in danger. The Government should provide protection to Rev Khanna even after his release from police custody. The places of worship and the Christian institutions too need adequate protection."
CMS is a long-standing partner of the Dicoese of Amritsar.