The Missionaries of Charity, an organisation founded by Mother Teresa in Gujarat, has been prosecuted under the Gujarat Religious Freedom Act, 2003, for allegedly forcing girls to convert to Christianity at a Christian orphanage under their control, in Vadodara.
Based on a complaint lodged by the District Social Security Officer Mayank Trivedi, the police officers went to the orphanage last Sunday and enquired the girls there. The officers also took up the investigation based on a complaint filed by a young girl from Punjab who was forced to convert, when she stayed in this orphanage.
The investigation revealed that all religious activities undertaken by the orphanage from February to December 2021 were deliberately carried out in a manner that disregarded Hinduism and the girls who stayed in the orphanage were forced to adopt Christian practices and rituals.
It was found that the girls were forced to wear a cross on their neck and keep a Bible in their rooms, apart from being forced to adopt other Christian practices. There have also been charges that the orphanage had forced a Hindu girl to marry a Christian man and that vegetarians were forced to consume non-vegetarian food.
However, Missionaries of Charity have denied these charges and allegations by saying that they have 24 girls in the orphanage and that no girl has been forced to convert to Christianity. But, the investigation has found the orphanage guilty of forceful conversion and insult to Hinduism.
Reports say that action has been taken against this orphanage under the Gujarat Religious Freedom Act, 2003. It is to be noted that those charged under this act will have to pay a fine of ₹ 50,000, and if minors are forcefully converted, then they will have to pay a fine of ₹ 1 lakh.
(With inputs from Kathir news)
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